Annual Report 2015 -3-

Melbourne Theatre Company Annual Report 2015

4 Highlights 59 NEON Extra 6 MTC Board and MTC Foundation Board 8 Chairman’s Report 62 Education 10 Artistic Director’s Report 64 I Call My Brothers 12 Executive Director’s Report 66 Education Program 14 Development Director’s Report 68 Sharing the Light 16 Literary Director’s Report 70 Cybec Electric MTC is a department of the University of Melbourne 18 2015 Mainstage Season 20 Jumpy 73 MTC Initiatives 22 What Rhymes with Cars and Girls 73 Women Directors Program 24 Endgame 73 Assistant Directors Program 26 The Waiting Room 73 MTC CONNECT 28 North by Northwest 73 Dramaturg Internships 30 Birdland 32 Death and the Maiden 74 Economic Impact Study: 34 The Weir North by Northwest 36 Betrayal MTC Headquarters 38 Buyer and Cellar 76 Awards and Nominations 252 Sturt St 40 The Last Man Standing 78 Employment Southbank VIC 3006 42 The Boy at the Edge of Everything 78 Actors and Artists 2015 03 8688 0900 44 MTC on Tour 80 MTC Staff 2015 Southbank Theatre 46 Jumpy 140 Southbank Blvd 47 Complexity of Belonging 82 Support for MTC Southbank VIC 3006 48 Pennsylvania Avenue 82 Corporate Partners 03 8688 0800 49 The Weir 84 Donors mtc.com.au Venues 50 NEON Festival of Independent Theatre 86 Financials Throughout 2015 MTC performed its Melbourne season of plays at 51 MKA: Theatre of New Writing 88 Key performance indicators Southbank Theatre, The Sumner and The Lawler, 52 The Zoey Louise Moonbeam Dawson 91 Financial Statement and the Fairfax Studio and Playhouse at Arts Centre Melbourne. Shakespeare Company 53 Dirty Pretty Theatre Managing Editor Virginia Lovett 54 Dee & Cornelius Graphic Designer Helena Turinski 55 Elbow Room Cover Image Jeff Busby 56 The Last Tuesday Society: Pimp My Play Production Photographers Sebastian Bourges, Jeff Busby, Pier Carthew, Adele Cochrane, 57 NEON Residency: Rawcus Jean Couturier, Paul Dunn, Tim Grey, Mauro Palmieri, Shane Reid, Sarah Walker. 58 NEON Readings Cover North by Northwest: Matt Day and Amber McMahon -4- -5-

2015 Highlights

494actors, creatives and Industry $3.7 professionals worked with MTC million $12.7 million of economic impact generated by North by Northwest box office revenue earned million total revenue new $24.4 Australian plays in Mainstage Season 4 directors19 mentored 7,949 through secondments, Women Directors Program and Assistant Directors Program 16 school tickets sold playwrights independent 7 to MTC productions under commission theatre companies supported via NEON Festival 685 total performances of Independent Theatre

230,550 6 of 131%core government funding spent productions on tour paid attendances to MTC productions or interstate transfer directly on cast and creative wages -6- -7-

Martyn Myer ao Brett Sheehy ao Chairman, The Myer Family Investments Ltd; MTC Artistic Director; Board member since MTC Board Member of the Council of the University of January 2012. Melbourne; Chairman of Cogstate Limited; B.Mech Eng, M.Eng. Science, M. Sc in Management, Virginia Lovett FIEA. Board member since January 2011. MTC Executive Director; Board member since January 2013. Maureen Wheeler Terry Moran ac (Chair) Jonathan Feder Founder of Lonely Planet Publications; Founder and Adrian Collette am (Observer) Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Partner at K & L Gates; Theatre Producer (JAF Trustee of the Planet Wheeler Foundation; Board Vice-Principal (Engagement), University of Cabinet to 2011; Chair of the Barangaroo Delivery Productions and Two Left Feet Productions); B.Laws member of Text Publishing; previously principal Melbourne; Board member of Australia Council Authority; Special Adviser on Public Sector Reform (Hons), B.Sc. Board member since June 2010. patron of the Melbourne Ring Cycle, and board for the Arts and Committee for Melbourne; Life at the Boston Consulting Group; Chair Cranlana member of Tourism Tasmania and the Northern Member of Live Performance Australia; previously Programme; National President of the Institute of Gillian Franklin Territory Tourism Advisory Board. Board member Chief Executive Officer of Opera Australia. Public Administration; Governor of the Committee Founder and Managing Director of The Heat Group; since July 2014 for Economic Development of Australia; BA (Hons). Board member of: Australian Grand Prix Board member since January 2012. Chair from Corporation (Deputy Chair), Cosmetic, Toiletry and January 2014. Fragrance Association of Australia (CTFA), ACCORD, The Heat Group, TFS Corporation, Member of the Tony Burgess Visitor Economy Ministerial Advisory Committee. MTC Foundation Board Chief Executive Officer of Flagstaff Partners; Director Board member since September 2006. of Diversified United Investment Limited; Director of Melbourne Business School Limited; Chairman of Jane Hansen Jane Hansen (Chair) Janette Kendall the Melbourne Foundation for Business and Chair of the Little Foundation; Member of the Chair of the Little Foundation; Member of the Non-executive director of Wellcom Worldwide and Economics; Governor of the Ian Potter Foundation; University of Melbourne Council and the Humanities University of Melbourne Council and the Humanities a partner at Goldeneye Media; previously on the Member of CPA Australia; Fellow of the Financial Foundation Board; previously on the Boards of the Foundation Board; previously on the Boards of the boards of the Melbourne International Festival of Services Institute of Australia. Board member since MCG Trust, the State Sport Centres Trust, the MCG Trust, the State Sport Centres Trust, the the Arts, AURL Foodworks, Clemenger BBDO; February 2015. Federal body of Athletics Australia and the Federal body of Athletics Australia and the former Senior Vice President at Galaxy Foundation of the State Library of Victoria. Board Foundation of the State Library of Victoria. Entertainment Group, China. MTC Foundation Board Professor Barry Conyngham am member since February 2015. MTC Foundation Chair since August 2015. member since March 2015. Dean, Faculty of the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University Janette Kendall Terry Bracks am Leigh O’Neill of Melbourne; Emeritus Professor University of Janette Kendall is a non-executive director of Founding Chair of Western Chances; Patron of Executive General Manager, NAB Micro & Small Wollongong and Southern Cross University; MA Wellcom Worldwide, and a partner at Goldeneye Heide Gallery and the Williamstown Literary Business in Personal Banking; Chair of Chunky (Hons), DMUS: CertPostDocStud (UCSD). Board Media; previously on the boards of the Melbourne Festival; formerly a board member of Breast Cancer Move; fomerly General Manager for NAB Private member since October 2013. International Festival of the Arts, AURL Foodworks, Network Australia, the National Film and Sound Wealth in Victoria and Board member for the Griffin Clemenger BBDO; former Senior Vice President at Archive, the Australian Children’s Television Theatre Company Board and the Ilhan Food Allergy Professor Glyn Davis ac Galaxy Entertainment Group, China. Board member Foundation; and a past Trustee of the Victorian Arts Foundation. MTC Foundation Board member since Vice Chancellor, The University of Melbourne; since February 2015. Centre Trust. MTC Foundation Board member since March 2015. Professor of Political Science; past Chair, March 2015. Universities Australia; B.A (Hons), PhD, AC, FASSA. Ian Marshman Virginia Lovett Board member since January 2005. Former Senior Vice-Principal, University of Fiona Griffiths MTC Executive Director; MTC Foundation Board Melbourne Chair of the Universitas 21 Managers Board member of Ruyton Girls’ School; former member since March 2015. Patricia Faulkner ao Group and Chair of VTAC Committee of School Council President Auburn Primary School; Chair of the Telecommunications Industry Management; Director of Headspace National Youth formerly ANZ Group Strategy, ANZ Legal Group and Tiffany Lucas Ombudsman Board, the National Health Mental Health Foundation; Chair, Melbourne Dental a senior associate at DLA Phillips Fox. MTC MTC Development Director; MTC Foundation Board Performance Authority and Jesuit Social Services; Clinic Board; BA (Honours), LLB. Board member Foundation Board member since March 2015. member since March 2015. Deputy Chair of St Vincent’s Healthcare Australia; since January 2009. Commissioner of the Commonwealth Grants Lia Chappell Commission. Board member since February 2015. MTC Finance Director; MTC Foundation Board member since March 2015. -8- -9-

Chairman’s Report

Melbourne Theatre lives; they bring us pleasure and insight; they independent theatre companies, we are mystified Company is an dissect, criticise and question our assumptions; by the apparent undervaluing of MTC’s contribution exceptionally risky they reflect our experience back to us, revealing to the cultural vibrancy of Victoria. business. By that I what we have failed to notice; and while they’ll often don’t necessarily mean be an escape from the world, we know that the world Our future is dictated by a simple equation: as the MTC’s activities are will seem a little altered when we return to it. proportion of our revenue coming from government financially precarious sources lowers, the greater will be our reliance on or chancy – though we And within live performance, theatre holds a special commercial factors, which adds up to fewer artistic work within very tight place. It’s the most immediate and contemporary risks being taken, less artistic vitality, a trimming margins. I mean that of arts, the most in touch with our changing society, of ambition. risk is an ever-present most in tune with today’s dreams, fears and factor in everything the expectations – and that’s why developing new Let’s hope that it doesn’t get to that. And in the Company does, Australian work, despite it being inherently riskier meantime, we maintain our ambitions and set our implied in its mission statement, locked into its than other types, is so central to MTC’s identity. sights on what the Company can do to help itself. DNA. We launch at least a dozen new products onto In new Australian plays we tell stories about ourselves The MTC Foundation is up, running and doing well, the market every year and in any other line of and get to the heart of who we are. We create a space and we have maintained sponsorship to allow business that would be risky enough. But in our for debate and reflection on contemporary Australian us to continue all our important programs for the business, commercial risk is further complicated issues. In 2015, by staging four new Australian works time being. by factoring in artistic risk. and commissioning, developing and presenting readings of many others, MTC rededicated ourselves One thing in the pipeline is to strengthen our We have a duty to be a centre of excellence in to be relevant to our society. relationships with audiences around Victoria. theatre, to push the boundaries of the art, to lead In the future, we will be placing more emphasis our audience to new experiences and not always Yet, inexplicably, deep relevance to Australian on taking successful productions to the regional follow them to pastures that are known and safe. lives does not convert to government support. centres as well as outer metropolitan Melbourne. In every season, MTC produces shows that we know Indeed, the so-called heritage arts, by which I If we want to find new audiences for MTC, that is full well have no large audience, but they fulfil include opera, ballet and orchestras, despite where they are likely to be. With regular short our need to do valuable and interesting work, drawing heavily on a classical European repertoire, seasons of MTC productions in regional centres we they speak to our artistic vibrancy. The risks of all receive many times the public support of MTC. can build the kind of audience loyalty we have long programming such plays are carefully calculated By any measure you choose, government, especially enjoyed in Melbourne and solidify our position as and ultimately balanced with those shows we the Victorian government, is under investing in the Victoria’s flagship theatre company. believe have greater commercial appeal. In this most immediate, popular and contemporary of regard, MTC’s 2015 Season was like any other, the performance arts. This fact is made clearer a tightrope walk, with risk – commercial on one by comparing our situation to other state theatre side, artistic on the other – being the pole we hold. companies. Queensland Theatre Company, for instance, received around $3.6 million of Terry Moran ac There were some wobbly moments in 2015, recurrent funding from state government in 2015, Chairman especially with a couple of shows that were lauded which allows them, despite their much smaller size, by the critics but failed to find their potential to take on ambitious projects such as the Tim Finn audience. Yet that won’t dissuade the Company musical Ladies in Black. Similarly, STC received over from taking the same kind of risks in the future. $3 million of funding and support from the NSW The answer is not to be more commercial, but to government. We received just over $480,000 from work harder to attract new audiences (while, of ours. Since we run wide-ranging extra-curricular course, retaining our large and loyal subscriber programs in education, audience development and base). We go forward on the firm assumption that career development within the performing arts the arts are important to everyone. They enrich industry and have generously supported -10- -11-

Artistic Director’s Report

In 2015, MTC continued Good stories abound in this Annual Report. These require the slashing of huge slabs of text As well, in 2015 we established the MTC to implement its Our third NEON Festival of Independent Theatre or even whole scenes, doubling or tripling actors’ Foundation, which was launched in early 2016 strategy for the cemented our role in the wider landscape of roles, and re-arranging music written for an and sets us on a path, we hope, to realising many development and Melbourne theatre as perhaps no other flagship orchestra to a band of five. Take just one very of MTC’s dreams which financial constraints have production of new organisation has managed, whether in theatre, simple example. In the 1980s it was de rigeur for previously prevented. Australian stories dance, opera, or orchestral music. Our Women major Australian productions of Romeo and Juliet and the nurturing Directors Program was so successful we have to be performed with around 20 actors. Now it is We are Melbourne’s theatre company, and we of new audiences. expanded it in 2016 to include more mentorships presented by the major companies with around 10. remain as inventive, innovative, resourceful in a re-named Women in Theatre Program. Countless other examples abound. And then there and relevant as ever. We presented four Our Education and Family Programs grew. are the severe restrictions on set and costume world premiere seasons Our co-production, Complexity of Belonging, budgets. The ‘eye candy’ afforded opera and ballet of Australian works in toured to the Netherlands, Germany, France audiences is rarely afforded our theatre audiences. our mainstage program and Taiwan, garnering standing ovations in every and a national premiere of an Australian play in our city (the first time MTC has toured to Europe). Indeed our colleagues in ballet, opera and the family program. Two of our productions (one from Two shows generated at MTC were programmed symphony orchestras for many years rightly Brett Sheehy ao late 2014 and one from early 2015) were nominated for commercial return seasons in 2016 (North by demanded of government this would not happen among five works for the 2015 Helpmann Award for Northwest and Pennsylvania Avenue). Our Cybec to them, and it hasn’t. They argued passionately Best New Australian Work – a record for MTC. Electric Play Readings (supported by Dr Roger and successfully that a nation’s flagship arts Riordan am and the Cybec Foundation) also saw companies which cannot present our audiences This strategy around new writing is being refined audiences grow. And our commissions scheme with the acknowledged masterpieces would in 2016 and beyond to ensure that Melbourne once (supported by the Joan and Peter Clemenger Trust) be hobbled unconscionably. And so ballets again is recognised as the birthplace of our nation’s thrived, with more fine writers brought into MTC’s by Balanchine or Nureyev are performed as finest Australian stage writing, as it was decades development activities. choreographed and envisioned by those artists, ago thanks to legendary Melbourne companies symphonies by Beethoven or Mahler are played such as the Pram Factory and Playbox. Despite these successes and achievements, as composed, and operas by Puccini or Bizet are with the lowest percentage of total government sung and presented as conceived. Yet this is not Successes such as these Helpmann Award support of any of Australia’s 28 major performing so for many of the greatest works of theatre. nominees were complemented by several arts organisations, challenges exist, and our In my view, the time has come to redress this outstanding box-office hits, including North by Chairman’s report addresses these. growing chasm between support of our flagship Northwest (an Australian-authored adaptation of theatre companies and rightful support of flagship the classic Hitchcock film), Jumpy, and The Weir. As well, across the nation theatre cast sizes are companies in other artforms. diminishing, actors have to double roles more and We believe presentation of the best contemporary more often, and the wish by us (or indeed any state That said, we remain optimistic and ever-buoyant. stories, Australian and international, is at the theatre company of Australia) to perform some Our State and Federal Governments are developing heart of twenty-first century theatre’s relevance of the greatest works of Shakespeare, Voltaire, programs which open the door to specific initiatives to our society, our politics, our relationships Marlowe, Goethe or the best of American musical on which we can embark, especially around touring, and our world. theatre as written is simply impossible. reflecting the diversity of Australian society, and the creation of landmark works. We look forward to what these programs will deliver to our nation’s cultural landscape. -12- -13-

Executive Director’s Report

This year presented If the Company remains reliant on earned income We welcomed a number of new Board members The Victorian creative industries contribute the company with a the Company will wilt. It will no longer be able to the boardroom table under the Chairmanship of $22.7 billion to the state representing 8% of number of challenges to invest in new writers, new directors, new ideas, Terry Moran. The new members were Jane Hansen, the total economy and employing over 220,000 and opportunities, new audiences, tours or education programs as Patricia Faulkner, Jeanette Kendall and Tony people. Melbourne Theatre Company plays and will welcomes and it will be near impossible for the Company to take Burgess, bringing with them a wealth of experience continue to play a vital role in this ecology. farewells and access on any major risk. Our ticket prices will need to and knowledge. Championed by MTC’s Chair, three to new audiences rise and this will deter new and young audiences out of four of the new appointments were women Many of the key programs that make Melbourne locally, nationally coming to experience one of Australia’s great – confirming MTC’s commitment to challenging Theatre Company great would not be possible and internationally. theatre companies. gender disparity in all areas of the business from without the support of our subscriber base and the top down. our many, many Donors. The company would The Company The only way we can swim against the tide is like to thank them for their generosity and loyalty. presented 18 from increasing our contributable income through The inaugural year of the Sharing The Light Initiative productions across private giving. supported through Crown Resorts Foundation I would also like to extend my gratitude to my mainstage, NEON and the Packer Family Foundation was very colleagues – Brett Sheehy, the Executive team and Festival of Independent Theatre, a family With this in mind one key strategic focus for 2015 successful, and gives MTC a platform to develop MTC Board for their ongoing support and counsel. production and a touring education show. This was to fully establish the new MTC Foundation. new audiences and reach disadvantaged students equated to 685 performances, attendances of over across the state over the life of the remaining 230,000 and thousands of kilometres travelled Jane Hansen was appointed as the inaugural five-year gift. across the State. Chair in August and in October, as part of the Australia Council Philanthropy study tour, Jane The initiative enabled students from 60 disadvantaged Despite a challenging year at the box office, and I visited many key arts organisations in New schools to experience MTC productions with the budget and expenditure measures now in York and Philadelphia to meet with their Chairs thousands of tickets sold at a subsidised price of place across production, marketing and in our and Heads of Philanthropy and Giving. It was a just $5, and the Company took its education show Virginia Lovett theatre enabled the Company to weather a box unique opportunity to discuss new methods and to nine schools in regional Victorian areas including office shortfall in an ever increasing competitive best practice in private giving with people like Hamilton, Euchuca and Yarram. market environment. In the last quarter with Anne Ziff, Chair of the Metropolitan Opera, Matthew some key shows falling short of budgets the Van Besen, President, New York Philharmonic, and This year the Company undertook it's first economic Company was nimble and robust enough to delay Hattie Jutigar, Executive Director Development and impact study for one of its biggest shows, North discretionary expenditure, reduce leave liability and Planning at the Lincoln Center Theatre. We returned by Northwest. The report indicated this one show decrease costs across the Company without energised and ready to propel the Company into its alone generated $3.7 million worth of economic compromising the artistic outcome. next exciting phase of growth. benefit for the City of Melbourne. More detail about the findings is in this annual report. In July 2015 This, coupled with an increase in revenue from The Company bade adieu to Associate Artistic MTC was running a production in four theatres – the private and corporate giving, and a reduced net Director Sam Strong and Associate Director Sumner, Lawler, Arts Centre Melbourne’s Playhouse cost of servicing corporate and private donors, Leticia Cáceres who had both been with MTC for and Fairfax theatres. On any one Saturday during means the Company will report an operating three years. Sam is now Artistic Director at QTC July nearly 3000 people were seeing an MTC deficit of just $19,259. An excellent outcome with and Leticia will work nationally and internationally production. This meant employment for actors, all things considered. as a freelance director. In 2016 they return to creatives, ushers, box office staff, bar staff, car the Company to direct three mainstage shows parking staff, and technical and production staff, However, this year again highlighted only too so Melbourne audiences will not miss out on their creating economic impact for the city and jobs clearly how reliant the Company is on box office immense talents and I am sure we will see them for creative industries. income with government subsidy falling below 10% in years to come. and going backwards in real terms. Most shows have very high capacity targets to reach budget, and in a volatile and highly competitive marketplace every production is a risk. -14- -15-

Development Director’s Report

First and foremost – getting to personally know and continue to build In addition to these two strong, longstanding thank you – to all of relationships with so many of our generous Donors. programs, the MTC Development Department our visionary Donors, The MTC Foundation Board also began to take shape also launched a brand new Membership Program supportive Members in 2015, with the appointment of MTC Foundation in 2015. Inaugural MTC Members had the exclusive and engaged Corporate Chair, Jane Hansen as well as Foundation Board opportunity to relax and socialise in the newly Partners for making Members Terry Bracks, Fiona Griffiths, Janette opened Qatar Airways MTC Lounge on Level 2 of 2015 a fantastic year Kendall and Leigh O’Neill. Thank you to these Southbank Theatre. Surrounded by a changing for Melbourne Theatre inspirational leaders for taking up the challenge and exhibit of art from our Corporate Partner, Artbank, Company and everyone adventure of joining the MTC Foundation as MTC Members enjoyed complimentary snacks and in our community who inaugural members. I am confident that beverages while taking in stunning views of the had the opportunity to philanthropy at MTC will continue to grow Melbourne Arts Precinct. experience life-changing and thrive under their guidance. theatre over the past It is undeniable that 2015 was an outstanding year year. In 2015 alone, support from Donors, Members Also, from everyone at MTC, I’d like to say a special for MTC Development. But, all of this generous and Corporate Partners helped MTC to: thank you to a number of our major Donors and support from Donors, Members and Corporate supporters who helped make 2015 extraordinary Partners is, at the end of the day, simply a reflection • stage 685 performances; including our new Artistic Director’s Circle of and a tribute to the quality and excellence of the • commit to five new playwriting commissions; Members, the MTC Youth Ambassador Giving Circle work MTC puts on stage. It’s our community overtly • provide $5 subsidised tickets to students at supporters, the Cybec Foundation, Geraldine demonstrating the importance of the arts – and low-socioeconomic schools; Lazarus, the Peter and Joan Clemenger Trust, the theatre in particular – to our lives. And it’s a vote • work with 494 artists and industry professionals; Lady Mayoress Committee, the Vizard Foundation, of confidence from the people of Melbourne and • interact with almost 8,000 students; Crown Resorts Foundation and Packer Family greater Victoria in our State theatre company. • offer nearly 20 secondments and internships Foundation. Their support, along with our other to aspiring theatre-makers; dedicated Donors, made a real difference in the With such great investment from our supporters • tour our Education program to regional Victoria quality, accessibility and affordability of comes great responsibility for MTC – and we take and Tasmania; transformative theatre in Victoria. this responsibility incredibly seriously. Thank you, • support 10 up and coming women directors; and dear Donors, Partners and Members, for investing • expand our NEON Festival of Independent It was also a great year for our Corporate in us in 2015. Your passion and generosity continues Theatre Partnerships, with income from sponsorships to help transform lives through theatre. and corporate entertainment reaching a new high That’s just to name a few achievements! of nearly $2.8 million (including in-kind support), which represents a growth in revenue of over 191% It was a marvelous year for MTC Philanthropy as above 2014. Through the leadership of Dean philanthropic support reached an all-time high, with Hampel, MTC signed on 17 new Corporate Partners Tiffany Lucas our generous Donors gifting over $1.75 million to the in 2015 including three new Major Partners: Qatar MTC Foundation. This represents an increase in Airways, Smooth FM, and Network Ten. We also donation income of over 127% above 2014. What a continued to build stronger relationships with remarkable result! The Philanthropy team, led by many of our longstanding partners including Sarah Kimball (January to July) and Patrick Rundle Audi Australia and Fairfax Media. (September to present) worked hard to ensure efficiency in our fundraising efforts, resulting in our cost of fundraising being only $0.17 per dollar raised. And, of course, we had a great time along the way – -16- -17-

Literary Director’s Report

In the ancient Sanskrit And while we may have been kept busy in the With the Joan and Peter Clemenger Trust as One of the most exciting new developments last textbook, the Natya literary office on those performance scripts, in the generous benefactors of our commissions program, year was our successful applications for University Shastra, the author background we worked away on many, many other we were thrilled to offer new play commissions of Melbourne’s Macgeorge Fellowships, which wrote that all scripts, building deep options for Season 2016, to Judith Lucy, Damien Millar, Joanna Murray-Smith allowed successful UK playwrights Joe Penhall performing arts while providing the support necessary to develop and Eddie Perfect, plus a co-commission with and Simon Stephens to visit Melbourne for an must answer three the skills and careers of playwrights. Bell Shakespeare to Justin Fleming. However, extended period, delivering lectures for the fundamental play commissions represent just the tip of the university and the general public. As well as questions: How do we Again in 2015, Cybec Electric provided us with assessment and workshopping iceberg. A large sessions with our commissioned playwrights and live now? How does a first look at some promising new scripts, part of the Literary Office’s day-to-day activities VCA students, both Joe and Simon submitted to a the universe work? and a chance to see how they felt on their feet. is taken up with the business of sourcing and public ‘In Conversation’ event with me. With the And, how should we We are ever-grateful to Dr Roger Riordan am and dissecting new plays and discussing work with Lawler filled to capacity, these star playwrights divert and entertain the Cybec Foundation for generously providing the playwrights. My diary reminds me of ninety-six brought inspiration and a little bit of glamour to people of all classes much-needed funding to present this play reading meetings with forty-four playwrights and thirty the Literary Office, and most importantly, brought who would mostly series. In 2015 the program was also supported meetings with twenty-six directors, academics, playwrights together, unifying their sense of resolve rather drink and make merry? I read and assess by the Victorian College of the Arts (who placed and artistic colleagues. I felt heartened in my and identity. hundreds of plays each year and it seems that these graduate interns in rehearsal rooms), Playwriting face-to-face meetings with playwrights to note are still good and relevant questions for playwrights Australia, Red Stitch Actors Theatre and Griffin that the majority of the faces were female and Finally, Yale University invited me on a panel to to try to answer. Theatre Company. Gender equity is a key part of a significant proportion under thirty and from a judge an international playwriting award. I made the the program, as is a diversity of creative styles, culturally and linguistically diverse background. most of the opportunity by arranging meetings with Each in their own way, the four new Australian plays genres and voices, and this may have been the most I was also involved in panel sessions for the colleagues at many New York theatre companies to in our 2015 mainstage season were seeking answers diverse set of readings yet. We read Frogs Cry Wolf Melbourne Festival, the National Theatre Forum, learn about their approaches to play development to those three questions. Aidan Fennessy’s by Dan Lee, The Unknown Man on Summerton and Playwriting Australia’s Play Festival. With PWA, and forge a few new relationships for MTC. collaboration with musician Tim Rogers, What Beach by Tobias Manderson-Galvin, Archimedes’ we also ran another year of dramaturgy internships, Rhymes with Cars and Girls, was about love and the War by Melissa Reeves, and Moths by Michele Lee. while, with the Australia Writers Guild, we held Plays and playwrights are at the heart of MTC, complexities of creativity in the modern world. Kylie Cybec Electric has led to many successes. As well a playwrights night. so it’s heartening indeed to see the Literary Office Trounson’s deeply personal The Waiting Room as The Waiting Room from 2014, plays from the first grow and start to capture the ambition of our studied the current science of love and the love of two series have gone onto productions at Perth and MTC CONNECT continues to evolve and, at the creative talent, and shepherd it to productions science in an ambitious play, whose many twisted Griffin Theatre Companies, with others slated for NEON Festival of Independent Theatre, we of significance. storylines stretched over decades. Bombast, production in 2017. presented three readings of works by MTC CONNECT pomposity and false reverence were the targets participants and their colleagues: Rashma N Kalsie, of The Last Man Standing, Steve Vizard and Paul Marco Romero and Rani Pramesti, Ria Soemardjo, Grabowsky’s satire set around a Gallipoli Kei Murakami, and Shivanjani Lal. MTC CONNECT commemoration concert. And North by Northwest, also held a final workshop and showing of the Nadja adapted by Carolyn Burns, was as entertaining and Kostich project Pigeons. Chris Mead exciting a night in the theatre as anyone could hope Literary Director for. Each had been developed in-house and a great deal of dramaturgical time and care had been spent by the directors, the cast and the literary department to get them ready for the stage. There were many drafts and emendations, tweaks in rehearsals and line changes right up until Opening Night – and sometimes beyond. -18- -19-

2015 Mainstage Season

In 2015, MTC produced eleven mainstage Our collaborations with other theatre companies productions. Four new Australian plays received this year led to some outstanding theatrical their World Premieres, including our adaptation of experiences, beginning in March when Jumpy went North by Northwest, based on the Alfred Hitchcock to the Sydney Opera House for its season with the thriller, Steve Vizard and Paul Grabowsky’s Anzac Sydney Theatre Company. Our co-production with tribute The Last Man Standing, and What Rhymes STC, Death and the Maiden, also transferred with Cars and Girls written by Aidan Fennessy and to Sydney, while, in August, we brought the featuring the music and lyrics of Australian icon, State Theatre Company of South Australia’s Tim Rogers. Fresh from London stages came two production of Betrayal to Melbourne. Our thrilling new plays (Jumpy and Birdland), and there were production of North by Northwest was the result revivals of modern classics by Samuel Beckett of an extraordinary collaboration between MTC, (Endgame), Ariel Dorfman (Death and the Maiden) producers Kay+McLean and Warner Bros Theater and Harold Pinter (Betrayal). There was also our Ventures, and finally, we took our much-loved Victorian premiere production of Irish writer Conor production of The Weir to the Theatre Royal in McPherson’s ghost-ridden play The Weir. To this Hobart for four performances. impressive line-up we added on a bright, thoughtful family show, Finegan Kruckemeyer’s The Boy at the Edge of Everything. -21-

‘Turner’s comic genius is given full scope.’ Cameron Woodhead, The Age ‘This is a rib-tickling, heartwarming show in which a troupe of women led by the great Jane Turner, under the baton of the formidable Pam Rabe, show what the theatre can do when it rolls up its sleeves and works up a storm of entertainment.’ Peter Craven, The Saturday Paper

Jumpy by April De Angelis

Turning fifty is not for the faint of heart was the life-lesson drawn from UK playwright April de Angelis’s perceptive social comedy. With the ever-popular Jane Turner and Marina Prior heading a stand-out cast and directed by Pamela Rabe, the show proved to be one of the hits of the season.

31 JANUARY Production – Director Pamela Rabe 14 MARCH 2015 Set Designer Michael Hankin Costume Designer Teresa Negroponte Southbank Theatre, Lighting Designer Matt Scott The Sumner Composer and Sound Designer Drew Crawford Voice and Dialect Coach Leith McPherson Performances 48 Choreographer Dana Jolly Paid Attendance 24,662 Assistant Director Marcel Dorney Stage Manager Jess Burns Production Briefing 27 January Assistant Stage Manager Stephen Moore Opening Night 5 February Stage Management Secondments Forum Night 9 February Christa Jonathan (VCA Robert McDonald Award Donor Event 17 February Scholarship), Jack Kincaid Audio Described Performances 3 March and 7 March Cast Captioned Performances Opening Night Partner Media Partner Jane Turner and Marina Prior Laurence Boxhall, Caroline Brazier, John Lloyd 14 March Fillingham, Brenna Harding, Tariro Mavondo, Marina Prior, David Tredinnick, Jane Turner, Dylan Watson -23-

‘As polished and refined a premiere of a new musical play as you are likely to encounter.’ Chris Boyd, The Australian ‘An evocative, witty and heartfelt script.’ Rebecca Harkins-Cross, The Age What Rhymes with Cars and Girls by Aidan Fennessy music and lyrics by Tim Rogers

Listening one day to Tim Rogers’s iconic nineties album, What Rhymes with Cars and Girls, writer Aidan Fennessy detected in the songs a clear emotional through-line, an everyday ballad of two lovers coming together and holding on for dear life. Supported by a small band led by Rogers himself, luminous performances by Johnny Carr and Sophie Ross gave richness and heart to director Clare Watson’s debut mainstage production for MTC.

13 February Production – Director Clare Watson 28 March 2015 Musical Director Tim Rogers Set Designer Andrew Bailey Arts Centre Melbourne, Costume Designer Kate Davis Fairfax Studio Lighting Designer Richard Vabre Sound Designer Russell Goldsmith Performances 49 Voice Consultant Debbie Phyland Paid Attendance 12,349 Stage Manager Christine Bennett Assistant Stage Manager Jess Maguire Production Briefing 9 February Directorial Secondment Shannon Loughnane Opening Night 19 February Forum Night 23 February Cast Audio Described Performances 17 March and 21 March Johnny Carr, Sophie Ross Band Production Partner Media Partners Tim Rogers, Sophie Ross and Xani Kolac Ben Franz, Xani Kolac, Tim Rogers -25-

“…director Sam Strong is cunning, and he keeps the tone perfectly balanced between all-is-lost and upsettingly funny.” John Back, Time Out “[Luke] Mullins is a marvel, making the steward full of nervous tension and studied habitual physicality.” Adam Rafferty, Theatre People

Endgame by Samuel Beckett

Encased in the concrete tomb of Callum Morton’s set, Samuel Beckett’s comedy of final days had innumerable lively touches. In MTC Associate Artistic Director Sam Strong’s lucid production, the master and servant relationship never seemed more absurd as when presented by Colin Friels and Luke Mullins. As the other double act, Nell and Nagg, Julie Forsyth and Rhys McConnochie popped up out of oil drums to perfume the foul world with sweet nostalgia.

21 March Production – Director Sam Strong 5 April 2015 Set Designer Callum Morton Associate Set Designer Andrew Bailey Southbank Theatre, Costume Designer Eugyeene Teh The Sumner Lighting Designer Paul Jackson Sound Designer Russell Goldsmith Performances 38 Directorial Secondment Daniel Lammin Paid Attendance 17,077 Stage Manager Whitney McNamara Assistant Stage Manager Emma Barbaro Production Briefing 16 March Opening Night 26 March Cast Forum Night and Donor Event 30 March Julie Forsyth, Colin Friels, Rhys McConnochie, Audio Described Performances Luke Mullins 21 April and 25 April Captioned Performances Colin Friels and Luke Mullins 18 April Education Performances 15, 21 and 22 April -27-

‘The Waiting Room is a play which revels in life.’ Andrew Fuhrmann, Daily Review ‘The cast themselves are uniformly brilliant, bringing the play from humour to heartbreak and back in the blink of an eye.’ Elizabeth Davie, Arts Hub

The Waiting Room by Kylie Trounson

Kylie Trounson wrote a clear-eyed history of her father’s ground-breaking work in IVF technology and combined it with contrasting stories of infertile couples. Sophie Ross played Kylie and Greg Stone played Dr Alan Trounson among a deeply experienced cast, and director Naomi Edwards wove all the narrative strands together in a popular show.

15 May Production – Director Naomi Edwards 27 June 2015 Set Designer Dayna Morrissey Costume Designer Chloe Greaves Arts Centre Melbourne, Lighting Designer Richard Vabre Fairfax Studio Composer and Sound Designer Russell Goldsmith Performances 49 Video Designer Michael Carmody Paid Attendance 12,736 Voice and Dialect Coach Geraldine Cook Dramaturg Chris Mead Production Briefing 11 May Directorial Secondment Cienda McNamara Opening Night 21 May Stage Manager Jess Keepence Forum Night 25 May Assistant Stage Manager Lisette Drew Donor Event 26 May Stage Management Secondment Audio Described Performances Ariana O’Brien (QUT) 9 June and 13 June Cast Media Partner Greg Stone and Sophie Ross Captioned Performances 20 June Kate Atkinson, Brett Cousins, Belinda McClory, William McInnes, Sophie Ross, Greg Stone -29-

‘A-grade entertainment.’ Simon Plant, Herald Sun ‘Gleefully imaginative and executed with remarkable precision.’ Chris Boyd, The Australian North by Northwest Original screenplay by Ernest Lehman Adapted for the stage by Carolyn Burns

One of the greatest chase films would have seemed impossible to stage live until director Simon Phillips, lighting and co-set designer Nick Schlieper and adaptor Carolyn Burns found their way through the maze of technical challenges. Backed by rapidly shifting settings and world-leading video effects, the hardworking cast of twelve created a box- office triumph for MTC and our production partners Kay+McLean.

1 June Production – Director Simon Phillips 14 July 2015 Lighting Designer Nick Schlieper Set Design Simon Phillips and Nick Schlieper Arts Centre Melbourne, Costume Designer Esther Marie Hayes Playhouse Composer and Sound Designer Ian McDonald Original Film Music Bernard Herrmann Performances 39 Audio Visual Designer Josh Burns Paid Attendance 30,547 Associate Lighting Designer Chris Twyman Assistant Director John Kachoyan Production Briefing 25 May Voice and Dialect Coach Leith McPherson Opening Night 4 June Sound System Designer Terry McKibbin Forum Night and Donor Event Model Makers Owen Phillips and Charlie Davis 8 June Stage Manager Christine Bennett Audio Described Performances Deputy Stage Manager Jess Burns 30 June and 4 July Assistant Stage Manager Stephen Moore Auslan Signed Performance Stage Management Secondment 20 June Kaytlin Petrarca (VCA) Captioned Performances 27 June Cast Nicholas Bell, Ian Bliss, Justin Stewart Cotta, Production Partner Media Partners Amber McMahon and Matt Day Matt Day, Sheridan Harbridge, Matt Hetherington, John Leary, Tony Llewellyn-Jones, Amber By special arrangement with McMahon, Deidre Rubenstein, Lucas Stibbard, Warner Bros. Theater Ventures Lachlan Woods -31-

‘This is a play with more than atmosphere; it’s got guts, and compassion and cauterizing honesty. It’s unmissable.’ Tim Byrne, Time Out ‘This time-warping MTC production, directed by Leticia Caceres, is confident and engrossing.’ Chris Boyd, The Australian

Birdland by Simon Stephens

Mark Leonard Winter’s performance as Paul, the disintegrating rock-star in Simon Stephen’s hard-hitting exposé of the corrosive effects of fame, had audiences mesmerised. Stunning, too, in MTC Associate Director Leticia Cáceres’s innovative production, were the design elements from Marg Horwell, Adam Gardnir, Andy Turner and Jethro Woodward and a brilliant acting ensemble.

6 June Production – Director Leticia Cáceres 11 July 2015 Set Designer Marg Horwell Costume Designer Adam Gardnir Southbank Theatre, Lighting Designer Andy Turner The Sumner Composer and Sound Designer Jethro Woodward Performances 40 Voice and Dialect Coach Geraldine Cook Paid Attendance 10,047 Fight Choreographer Brad Flynn Choreographer Stephanie Lake Production Briefing 1 June Stage Manager Whitney McNamara Opening Night 11 June Assistant Stage Manage Jess Maguire Forum Night 15 June Directorial Secondment Phillip Rouse Donor Event 25 June Stage Management Secondment Jackson Harper Audio Described Performances Sound Secondment Tristan Barr 7 July and 11 July Cast Opening Night Partner Media Partner Mark Leonard Winter Michala Banas, Bert LaBonté, Socratis Otto, Anna Samson, Peta Sergeant, Mark Leonard Winter -33-

‘[Susie Porter] is an authoritative presence and always holds the stage.’ Owen Richardson, Daily Review

Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman

Co-produced with Sydney Theatre Company, Ariel Dorfman’s classic investigation into power and revenge had precise, searing performances from Susie Porter, Eugene Gilfedder and Steve Mouzakis. The spare setting and penetrating lighting by Nick Schlieper intensified the claustrophobic mood of a play, which, under Leticia Cáceres’s direction, felt as politically relevant now as when MTC first produced it more than twenty years ago.

18 July Production – Director Leticia Cáceres 22 August 2015 Set and Lighting Designer Nick Schlieper Costume Designer Anna Cordingley Southbank Theatre, Composer and Sound Designer The Sumner THE SWEATS Assistant Director Janice Muller Performances 40 Voice Consultant Anna McCrossin-Owen Paid Attendance 16,051 Armorer Len Steele Fight Choreographer Scott Witt Production Briefing 13 July Stage Manager Julia Smith Opening Night 23 July Assistant Stage Manager Forum Night 27 July Vivienne Poznanski Donor Event 4 August Stage Management Secondment Audio Described Performances Amelia O’Brien (VCA) 11 August and 15 August Captioned Performances Cast Opening Night Partner Media Partners A co-production with Susie Porter 22 August Sydney Theatre Company Eugene Gilfedder, Steve Mouzakis, Susie Porter -35-

‘Sam Strong directs The Weir with an easy grace and a flawless grasp of its shifts in mood and changes of register.’ Peter Craven, The Saturday Paper ‘Sam Strong’s production is gentle, funny and moving.’ Kate Herbert, Herald Sun

The Weir by Conor McPherson

With an attractive stranger (played by Nadine Garner) in their midst, the regulars of a rural pub in Ireland show off with a round of spooky story-telling. A play of gentle warmth and heartrending revelations, The Weir boasted a fine ensemble and beautifully measured direction by MTC Associate Artistic Director Sam Strong.

14 August Production – Director Sam Strong 26 September 2015 Set and Costume Designer Dale Ferguson Lighting Designer Matt Scott Arts Centre Melbourne, Composer and Sound Designer Steve Francis Fairfax Studio Assistant Director and Voice and Dialect Coach Leith McPherson Performances 49 Stage Manager Christine Bennett Paid Attendance 16,724 Assistant Stage Manager Whitney McNamara Directorial Secondment Jessica Arthur Production Briefing 10 August Lighting Secondment Daniel Anderson Opening Night 20 August Sound Secondment Katelyn Shaw Forum Night 24 August Stage Management Secondment Gin Rosse Donor Event 1 September (NIDA) Education Performance 2 September Cast Audio Described Performances Nadine Garner, Peter Kowitz, Ian Meadows, Production Partner Robert Menzies, Nadine Garner 15 September and 19 September and Ian Meadows Captioned Performance Robert Menzies, Greg Stone 26 September -37-

‘Geordie Brookman’s production is fine, and utterly assured.’ Peter Rose, Australian Book Review ‘Bell’s contained performance is staggering in its depth and quiet power.’ Anne-Marie Peard, Aussie Theatre

Betrayal by Harold Pinter

This revival of Harold Pinter’s acclaimed 1978 play, in which a love affair is revealed by rolling backwards and forward through time, came to Melbourne via the State Theatre Company of South Australia, directed by their Artistic Director Geordie Brookman. Nathan O’Keefe and Mark Saturno, played Jerry and Robert, close friends who betray each other as well as the woman they both love, Emma, played by the incomparable Alison Bell.

26 August Production – Director Geordie Brookman 3 October 2015 Set and Lighting Designer Geoff Cobham Associate Designer and Costume Southbank Theatre, Designer Ailsa Paterson The Sumner Sound Designer Jason Sweeney Assistant Director Suzannah Kennett Lister Performances 45 Accent Coach Simon Stollery Paid Attendance 16,632 Directorial Secondment Cathy Hunt MTC Production Manager Frank Stoffels Production Briefing 24 August STCSA Production Manager and Lighting Opening Night 29 August Realiser Gavin Norris Forum Night 31 August Stage Manager Melanie Selwood Audio Described Performances Assistant Stage Manager Emma Barbaro 22 September and 26 September Touring Carpenter John Meyer Captioned Performance 3 October Cast Media Partners A State Theatre Company Alison Bell of South Australia production Alison Bell, Nathan O’Keefe, Mark Saturno, John Maurice -39-

‘Clever and entertaining… a fair-dinkum tour de force for Flanders.’ Chris Boyd, The Australian ‘Flanders holds the stage completely, giving a likeable and restrained performance.’ Cameron Woodhead, The Age

Buyer and Cellar by Jonathan Tolins

Unlikely but true: Barbra Streisand does indeed have a shopping mall in the basement of her barn in Malibu. The rest of the story in Buyer and Cellar is just the author on a wild flight of fancy. Making his MTC mainstage debut in this one-person show, Ash Flanders charmed audiences as the man hired to serve the shops’ only customer, skillfully directed by Gary Abrahams, also making his MTC directing debut with this production.

30 October Production – Director Gary Abrahams 12 December 2015 Set and Costume Designer Adam Gardnir Lighting Designer Rachel Burke Arts Centre Melbourne, Composer and Sound Designer THE SWEATS Fairfax Studio Voice and Dialogue Coach Suzanne Heywood Stage Manager Jess Keepence Performances 49 Assistant Stage Manager Stephen Moore Paid Attendance 11,444 Stage Management Secondment Jessie Atkins (WAAPA) Production Briefing 26 October Cast Opening Night 5 November Forum Night 9 November Ash Flanders Donor Event 17 November Audio Described Performances 1 December and 5 December Ash Flanders Original Off-Broadway Production produced by Darren Bagert, Auslan Signed Performance Dan Shaheen, and Ted Snowdon. World Premiere produced by 12 December Rattlestick Playwrights Theater; David Van Asselt, Artistic Director; Brian Long, Managing Director. -41-

‘Big, broad and confident … a delightfully funny work about who we are as Australians.’ Suzanne Sandow, Stage Whispers ‘A hilarious and moving portrait of undiminished cheek, and a terrific showcase for this immense talent.’ Tim Byrne, Time Out The Last Man Standing Book and lyrics by Steve Vizard Music by Paul Grabowsky

As our part in the centennial commemoration of the Gallipoli landings, we presented Steve Vizard and Paul Grabowsky’s timely and sobering satire on the over-the-top festivities. Former MTC Artistic Director Roger Hodgman directed a stellar cast, which included a priceless performance by Peter Carroll as the ancient Digger who grabs his moment in the spotlight.

6 November Production – Director Roger Hodgman 12 December 2015 Musical Director Andrew Patterson Set and Costume Designer Richard Roberts Southbank Theatre, Lighting Designer Matt Scott The Sumner Choreographer Dana Jolly Assistant Director Yvonne Virsik Performances 41 Dramaturg Chris Mead Paid Attendance 15,377 Stage Manager Christine Bennett Deputy Stage Manager Whitney McNamara Production Briefing Assistant Stage Manager Jess Maguire 2 November Opening Night 11 November Cast Forum Night 16 November Donor Event 1 December Peter Carroll, Nick Eynaud, Esther Hannaford, Audio Described Simon Maiden, William McInnes, Jensen Performances 8 December and Overend, Monica Swayne, Toby Truslove, 12 December Nicki Wendt, Alison Whyte Opening Night Partner Media Partners Peter Carroll Captioned Performance Violin Ed Antonov 5 December SCHOOL HOLIDAY PRODUCTION -43-

‘Peter Houghton is a past master at directing comedy: the timing is precise, the physical humour has sharp edges, and hilarity’s revelled in.’ Cameron Woodhead, The Age ‘Hyperventilatingly funny moments, for young and old.’ Chris Boyd, The Australian The Boy at the Edge of Everything by Finegan Kruckemeyer

Our special family show this year, from award-winning Tasmanian playwright Finegan Kruckemeyer, took audiences from an ordinary suburban home to the very edge of the universe. A script filled with sly observation and wry jokes was boosted out of orbit by inventive staging and design by Peter Houghton and Andrew Bailey and four, bright, winsome performances.

School Holiday Production Performances Director Peter Houghton 23 September Set and Costume Designer Andrew Bailey – 3 October 2015 Lighting Designer Lisa Mibus Composer and Sound Designer J David Franzke Performances for Schools Fight Choreographer Felicity Steel 5 to 9 October 2015 Stage Manager Lisette Drew Assistant Stage Manager Jess Maguire Southbank Theatre, Stage Management Secondment Katharine Timms The Lawler

Performances 24 Cast Paid Attendance 3,218 Felix Berger-O’Neil, Matt Furlani, Emily Goddard, Sebastian Lamour Production Partner Supported by Originally commissioned by Sebastian Lamour and Trusty Sidekick Theater Company, Matt Furlani New York and Seattle Children’s Theatre, Washington. -44- -45-

MTC on Tour -46- MTC ON TOUR MTC ON TOUR -47-

Jumpy Complexity of Belonging by April De Angelis A project by Falk Richther and Anouk van Dijk

Following its successful run in Melbourne, our production of April de Angelis’s award- This ground-breaking choreographic theatre co-production from Melbourne Theatre winning comedy of frazzled hopes and parental anxiety travelled to the Drama Theatre at Company, Chunky Move, Melbourne Festival, and Brisbane Festival toured to Europe and the Sydney Opera House for a knock-out eight-week season. Taiwan in 2015 for a run of performances in Utrecht, Paris, Berlin and Taipei.

Sydney Theatre Production Europe Production Company season Director Pamela Rabe 26 May – 6 June 2015 Concept, Direction and Choreography

Set Designer Michael Hankin SPRING Festival, Utrecht Falk Richter and Anouk van Dijk 26 March Costume Designer Teresa Negroponte Text Falk Richter Schaubuhne, Berlin – Lighting Designer Matt Scott Set Designer Robert Cousins Théâtre National de Chaillot, Paris 15 May 2015 Composer and Sound Designer Drew Crawford Costume Designer Mel Page Stage Manager Julia Smith Performances 10 Lighting Designer Niklas Pajanti Assistant Stage Manager (STC) Vanessa Martin Composer Malte Beckenbach Sydney Opera House, Assistant Director Gary Abrahams Drama Theatre Cast Taiwan Dramaturg Nils Haarmann 20 - 21 November 2015 Dramaturg Daniel Schlusser Laurence Boxhall, Caroline Brazier, John Lloyd Performances 58 Choreographic Secondment Niharika Senapati Paid Attendance 25,717 Fillingham, Brenna Harding, Tariro Mavondo, National Theater Marina Prior, David Tredinnick, Jane Turner, and Concert Hall, Taipei Cast Dylan Watson Performances 3 Joel Bray, Lauren Langlois, Alya Manzart, Eloise Total Tour Paid Attendance 5,687 Mignon, James Vu Anh Pham, Stephen Phillips, Josh Price, Karen Sibbing, Tara Soh -48- MTC ON TOUR MTC ON TOUR -49-

Pennsylvania Avenue The Weir by Joanna Murray-Smith by Conor McPherson

Adelaide audiences experienced the extraordinary talents of Bernadette Robinson when After Sam Strong’s lithe and lyrical production of The Weir charmed Melbourne audiences, our popular production of Pennsylvania Avenue landed at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. it took off to play a brief season at the historic Theatre Royal, Hobart.

Adelaide Cabaret Production Hobart season Production Festival Season Director Simon Phillips Director Sam Strong Musical Director Ian McDonald 30 September – Set and Costume Designer Dale Ferguson 11 – 14 June 2015 Set and Costume Designer Shaun Gurton 3 October 2015 Lighting Designer Matt Scott Lighting Designer Nick Schlieper Composer and Sound Designer Steve Francis Her Majesty’s Theatre, Associate Lighting Designer Chris Twyman Theatre Royal, Hobart Assistant Director/Voice Video Designer Chris More and Dialect Coach Leith McPherson Adelaide Assistant Director John Kachoyan Performances 4 Stage Manager Christine Bennett Stage Manager Victoria Woolley Assistant Stage Manager Whitney McNamara Performances 6 Paid Attendance 621 Assistant Stage Manager Emma Barbaro Paid Attendance 2,672 Cast Cast Nadine Garner, Peter Kowitz, Ian Meadows, Bernadette Robinson Robert Menzies, Greg Stone Band Tanya Cavanagh (drums), Lachlan Davidson (Reeds), Johnathan Skovron (guitar/keyboard) -50- NEON -51-

NEON Festival of Independent Theatre

‘A crucial part of the artistic and intellectual fabric of Melbourne’s theatre scene’ The Age

Building on success, our third NEON Festival of Independent Theatre showcased the work of seven independent companies in a range of productions, and offered workshops, readings and panel discussions for independent theatre pratitioners. Once again, in their ten-day seasons in the Lawler, the five presenting companies were given complete freedom to stage whatever works they chose in whatever form they wanted, and received all the box-office takings. MKA: Theatre of New Writing 2015 also saw the first NEON Residency and a special closing night event. Over the past three festivals, we have been vindicated in our MKA’s Double Feature belief that opening our doors will bring regular MTC audience members to new work and new audience members to MTC. Lucky by Tobias Manderson-Galvin Lord Willing and the Creek Don’t Rise by Morgan Rose

14 May – 24 May 2015 Production Southbank Theatre, Director (Lucky) John Kachoyan The Lawler Director (Lord Willing) Kat Henry Set Designer Matthew Adey (House of Vnholy) Performances 10 Costume Designer Daniel Harvey Total Attendance 980 Lighting Designer Amelia Lever-Davidson Sound Designer (Lucky) Liam Barton Post Show Conversation Sound Designer (Lord Willing) Brett Harris Australian Gothic Producer Celeste Markwell Sunday 17 May 2015 Production Manager Jennifer Taylor Business Manager Corey Reynolds ‘A razor sharp, dark, Stage Managers Ketura Budd (Lucky), brooding piece of theatre … Kate Brennan (Lord Willing) Nothing short of visionary.’ Cultural Consultant (Lucky) Tiriki Onus Jessi Lewis, Australian Arts Review (on Lucky) Cast Johnny Carr, Matthew Cooper, Jan Friedl, Kevin Kiernan-Molloy, Morgan Maguire, Peter Paltos, Devon Lang Wilton -52- NEON NEON -53-

The Zoey Louise Moonbeam Dawson Dirty Pretty Theatre Shakespeare Company The Lonely Wolf (or An Incomplete Guide for the Unadvanced Soul) Written and Directed by Gary Abrahams Calamity Devised and Directed by Zoey Dawson and Romanie Harper 11 – 21 June 2015 Production Southbank Theatre, Director Gary Abrahams 28 May – 7 June 2015 Production The Lawler Set Designer Jacob Battista Southbank Theatre, Costume Designer Chloe Greaves Performance Text Zoey Dawson Performances 10 Lighting Designer Katie Sfetkidis The Lawler Directors Zoey Dawson and Romanie Harper Total Attendance 893 Composer Daniel Nixon Set and Costume Designer Romanie Harper Choreography Gary Abrahams with Sarah Bruce, Performances 11 Lighting Designer and Dramaturg Emma Valente Post Show Conversation Ellya Sam and Georgia Bettens Total Attendance 1183 Sound Designer James Paul The Wolf Within Producer Corey Reynolds Assistant Director Leticia Brennan Steers Sunday 14 June 2015 Post Show Conversation Production Manager Hayley Toth Producer Jo Porter Stage Manager Jennifer Speirs Representing the Real Vs. Production Stage Manager Meg Richardson ‘Harry’s final descent into Modern Myth Making Assistant Stage Manager Josephine Burford Assistant Stage Manager Ketura Budd uninhibited madness was a Animations Robert Smith Sunday 31 May 2015 pleasure to behold.’ Cast Raphael Solarsh, Arts Hub ‘You cannot take your eyes Cast off Dawson.’ Debra Batton, Zoey Dawson and Ivy Rose Miller Georgia Bettens, Christopher Brown, Sarah Byron Bache, Herald Sun Bruce, Simon Corfield, Luisa Hastings Edge, Emily Goddard, Ashley McLellan, Elizabeth Nabben, Ellya Sam, Matt Whitty -54- NEON NEON -55-

Dee & Cornelius Elbow Room SHIT We Get It by Patricia Cornelius by Marcel Dorney and Rachel Perks

25 June – 5 July 2015 Production 9 – 19 July 2015 Production Southbank Theatre, Director Susie Dee Southbank Theatre, Directors Marcel Dorney and Emily Tomlins The Lawler Set and Costume Designer Marg Horwell The Lawler Creative Consultants Tanya Dickson, Daniel Lighting Designer Rachel Burke Evans and Rachel Perks Performances 11 Sound Designer Anna Liebzeit Performances 10 Set Designer Matt Adey (House of Vnholy) Total Attendance 1,586 Production/Stage Manager Bec Moore Total Attendance 1,278 Costume Designers Chloe Greaves and Zoe Rouse Producer Ebony Bott Audiovisual System Design Andre Vanderwert Post Show Conversation Post Show Conversation Movement Director Helen Duncan Here We Go, Women are Back Cast Doll-Parts: Feminism and Lighting Designer Kris Chainey on the Agenda Theatre in an Era of Borrowed Composer Josh Hodge Peta Brady, Sarah Ward, Nicci Wilks Sunday 28 June 2015 Prestige Sound Design Marcel Dorney Sunday 12 July 2015 Asst. Director/A.V. Content Sarah Mccormick ‘Provocative and tragic, Producer Dean Cartmel bracing and bitterly funny.’ ‘Both the writing and Production/Stage Manager Julia Truong Cameron Woodhead, The Age direction excel at twists Assistant Stage Manager Kat Timms and wicked pay-offs.’ Owen Richardson, Daily Review Cast and Co-Creators Tamiah Bantum, Amy Ingram, Kasia Kaczmarek, Sonya Suares, Joanne Sutton, Emily Tomlins -56- NEON NEON -57-

The Last Tuesday Society NEON Residency: Rawcus Pimp My Play Romeo and Juliet, after Baz Lurhman 20 – 25 July 2015 Production Southbank Theatre, Artistic Director Kate Sulan The Lawler Designer Emily Barrie 25 July 2015 Production Lighting Designer Richard Vabre Open Rehearsals Southbank Theatre, Composer and Sound Designer Directors Richard Higgins and Bron Batten Wednesday 22 July and Jethro Woodward The Lawler Lighting Designer Richard Vabre Thursday 23 July 2015 NEON Stage Manager Jess Keepence Stage Manager Millie Mullinar Performances 1 Vocal Coach Leith McPherson Assistant Stage Manager Lachlan O’Connor Masterclass Venue Technician Josh Noble Total Attendance 150 Venue Technician James Lipari Saturday 25 July 2015 Ensemble Participating Artists Steven Ajzenburg, Clem Baade, Hannah The Last Tuesday Society, Telia Nevile, Isabel and Bradsworth, Michael Buxton, Rachel Edward, Rachel, Grit Theatre, Little Ones Theatre, post, Nilgun Guven, Paul Mately, Mike McEvoy, Ryan The Burnt Sausages, year 9 drama students from New, Kerryn Poke, Louise Risiik, John Tonso, Candlebark College Danielle von der Borch -58- NEON NEON -59-

NEON Readings NEON EXTRA

NEON Readings was presented in association with MTC CONNECT, a partnership between Multicultural Arts Victoria and Melbourne Theatre Company.

Yes Way, We Made Kids NEON Conversations Insights for

Australia Home by Sean McIntyre Following each Sunday performance, Independents Arts Journalist and Broadcaster Fiona Gruber by Rani Pramesti, Ria Soemardjo and Monday 13 July 2015 spoke to the theatre makers and guest Free Workshops and Information Shivanjani Lal Southbank Theatre, The Lawler panellists about the work. Sessions for Independent Theatre Makers Monday 1 June 2015 Director Marco Romero Australian Gothic For Curious Independents Southbank Theatre, The Lawler Associate Director Ivan Rojas Stage Manager Meg Richardson Sunday 17 May 2015 Sunday 5 June 2015 Stage Manager Meg Richardson Narrator Amy Couts With Professor Ken Gelder and member of MKA: MTC HQ Cast Rani Pramesti, Ria Soemardjo, Cast James Ao, Reece Manning, Stacey Theatre of New Writing Shivanjani Lal, Kei Murakami Andonopoulos, Siomon Joseph Doyle, A look inside MTC during our production Total attendance 111 Elliot Cyngler, Cait Spiker, Diana Nguyen of Birdland, with MTC Production Co-ordinator Total attendance 142 Representing the Michaela Deacon and MTC Producer Real vs Modern Myth Making Yes Way was the inaugural performance of Martina Murray. the People of Colour Performing Arts Company Presented by Jimmy Flinders Productions Sunday 31 May 2015 Participants 10 With Lally Katz and members of The Zoey Louise Moonbeam Dawson Shakespeare Company For Writers Wednesday 17 June 2015 The Day I Left Home The Wolf Within: Madness and Art Southbank Theatre Sunday 14 June 2015 Examined the relationship between story by Rashma N Kalsie With Siann Bowman and members of Dirty and audience, with playwright Jane Bodie Pretty Theatre and MTC Literary Director Chris Mead. Monday 15 June 2015 Participants 11 Southbank Theatre, The Lawler Here We Go, Women are Back on the Agenda! Director Alex Pinder For Directors Stage Manager Meg Richardson Sunday 28 June 2015 Wednesday 24 June 2015 Cast Rayesh Gunasekera, Suhasini Seelin, With Susie Dee & Patricia Cornelius MTC HQ Sahil Saluja Total attendance 100 Discussion of different approaches to text-based Doll Parts: Feminism and Theatre theatre with MTC Associate Artistic Director in an Era of Borrowed Prestige Sam Strong and guest performers. Sunday 12 July 2015 Participants 12 With Clementine Ford and members of Elbow Room -60- NEON NEON -61-

Insights for NEON RESIDENCY: Independents Rawcus

(Continued)

For Those Promoting Shows Open Rehearsals Wednesday 1 July 2015 Wednesday 22 July and Thursday 23 July 2015 Southbank Theatre Southbank Theatre

Explored marketing and PR tricks of the trade, Over two days, interested theatre makers were with MTC Marketing Co-ordinator Daniel invited into the Rawcus rehearsal room to Coghlan and MTC PR and Communications observe the company at work and see how Manager Rosie Shepherdson-Cullen Rawcus go about beginning new projects. Participants 6 Participants 8

For Those Writing Grants Masterclass Wednesday 8 July 2015 Saturday 25 July 2015 Southbank Theatre Southbank Theatre

Tips about government and private grant This masterclasses provided an opportunity to applications, with MTC Philanthropy Co- meet and work with Rawcus and gain insight ordinator Stephanie Convery. into their creative process in the form of a Participants 9 practical workshop. Participants had the chance to work with members of the Rawcus Ensemble, Artistic Director Kate Sulan and Rawcus Artistic Associates Emily Barrie, Richard Vabre and Jethro Woodward. Participants 15

NEON Closing Night -62- -63-

Education -64- -65-

‘I Call My Brothers, translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles, is an imaginative, open- ended and thought-provoking play. It navigates its way through an ethical mine- field with insouciance and good humour.’ Chris Boyd, The Australian ‘Nadja Kostich directs with sensitivity and pace.’ Cameron Woodhead, The Age I Call My Brothers by Jonas Hassen Khemiri translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles

Our Education show for VCE students was an incisive, psychological thriller from Sweden in an innovative production directed by Nadia Kostich and designed by Marg Horwell. In both its season in Melbourne and on tour in regional Victoria, the play gave students much to think, talk and write about on themes of alienation and belonging in a mistrustful age.

Melbourne Season Production 16 April to 1 May 2015 Director Nadja Kostich Set and Costume Designer Marg Horwell Southbank Theatre, Lighting Designer Rachel Burke The Lawler Composer and Sound Designer Darrin Verhagen Video Designer Michael Carmody Stage Manager Vivienne Poznanski Regional Tour Translation Consultant Ninna Tersman 4 May to 18 May 2015 Cast Braemar College, Woodend; Alice Ansara, Ray Chong Nee, Joana Pires, Assumption College, Kilmore; Osamah Sami Mount Clear College, Ballarat; Marian College, Ararat; Melbourne season paid attendance 2380 Bayview College, Warrnambool; Regional tour paid attendance 1089 Yarram Secondary, Yarram; Orbost Secondary, Orbost; Regional tour supported by Osamah Sami Marian College, Myrtleford, Kybarm College, Kybram; Geelong Performing Arts Centre; Launceston College, Launceston -66- -67-

Education Program

For more than fifty years, MTC has provided life-changing educational experiences to young Victorians, a key element of which has been our many workshops and events held throughout the year. These include our long-running Solo Performance and Stagecraft workshops, our Ambassadors program, and our Youth Scholarship course. Student groups regularly toured our Headquarters and attended our production of I Call My Brothers and our mainstage shows. The regional tour of I Call My Brothers also offered students workshops and pre-show talks.

VCE Solo Performance Exam Workshops MTC Ambassador Program 15 to 19 June 2015 April to December 2015 MTC HQ MTC HQ Participants 175 Participants 15

VCE Stagecraft Exam Workshops HQ Tours 17 to 21 August 2015 February to December 2015 MTC HQ MTC HQ Participants 177 Participants 23 Groups

Youth Scholarship Course Work Experience 21 to 25 September 2015 January to December 2015 MTC HQ MTC HQ Participants 24 Participants 12

Pre-show talks and Post-show Q&As School Groups at MTC Productions March to October 2015 Paid Attendance 7,949

Pre-show talks were held for Endgame, I Call My Brothers and The Weir

Southbank Theatre, The Sumner and The Lawler Total participants 1,014

Youth Scholarship Partner MTC Ambassador Program -68- -69-

Sharing the light Supported by Crown Resorts Foundation and Packer Family Foundation

In our inaugural year of the Sharing the Light initiative, we made theatre more accessible than ever to Victorian students and families, toured our Education Production to regional areas and provided scholarships to two young Indigenous people.

$5 Student Tickets Regional Tour Available to students at low socio-economic MTC’s Education Production I Call My Brothers schools for all mainstage, education and toured regional Victoria and to Launceston family productions. in Tasmania.

Schools and venues visited 11 Travel Subsidy Braemar College, Woodend Assumption college Kilmore Offered to schools in outlying areas of Mount Clear College, Mount Clear Victoria to reduce geographical barriers and Ararat Performing Arts Centre, Ararat allow more students to get to the theatre Monivae College, Hamilton Total amount of travel subsidy Yarram Secondary College provided to schools $15,568 Orbost Secondary College, Orbost Education Myrtleford Performing Arts Centre, $5 Family Tickets Myrtleford St Joseph's College, Echuca Available to families in outer-metro Melbourne Geelong Performing Arts Centre, Geelong to attend The Boy at the Edge of Everything. Launceston College, Launceston

Indigenous Scholarships Designed to help create career pathways for young Indigenous people within the field of production for theatre and live performance. In 2015, the scholarship took the form of an intensive work experience program tailored to each recipient’s area of interest. Recipients Cianna Chapman and Bayden Clayton

Crown Schools Performance of The Boy at the Edge of Everything -70- -71-

Cybec Electric

12 to 21 February

Southbank Theatre, The Lawler and VCA Visual Arts Courtyard, as part of the 2015 SummerSalt Festival

Literary Director Chris Mead Producer Martina Murray Stage Manager Alice Fleming

Frogs Cry Wolf Archimedes’ War by Dan Lee by Melissa Reeves

12 and 14 February 19 and 21 February

Director Iain Sinclair Director Tanya Dickson Cybec Intern Lara Kerestes Cybec Intern Cathy Hunt Cast Jack Charles, Mark Coles-Smith , Cast Aljin Abella, Rodney Afif, Colin Moody, Tom Budge, Julie Forsyth, Margaret Harvey, Anna Samson, Maria Theodorakis, Harry Tseng Alex Menglet Paid Attendance 126 Paid Attendance 128 Presented in partnership with Playwriting Developed with Red Stitch Actors Theatre and Australia Playwriting Australia.

The Unknown Man Moths on Somerton Beach by Michele Lee by Tobias Manderson-Galvin 20 and 21 February

13 and 14 February Director Lee Lewis Cybec Intern Keziah Warner Director Sarah Giles Cast Aljin Abella, Emina Aliyyah Ashman, Cybec Intern Justin Nott Miles Paras, Rani Pramesti, Harry Tseng, Cast Jack Charles, Mark Coles-Smith, Leighton Young Tom Budge, Julie Forsyth, Margaret Harvey, Paid Attendance 136 Alex Menglet Paid Attendance 119 Presented in partnership with Griffin Theatre Leighton Young and Company and Playwriting Australia Moth's ensemble in rehearsal -72- -73-

MTC Initiatives

Women Directors MTC CONNECT Program A partnership with Multicultural Arts Victoria that Building on the success of the inaugural Women was established in 2014 to broaden the range of Directors Program, 2015 saw another ten women voices informing Melbourne Theatre Company’s provided with invaluable insights into the culture theatre making and programming processes. and inner workings of a major state theatre company and open access to all facets of MTC, Participants Tania Canas, Teame Ersie, as well as leadership training and practical career Rashma N. Kalsie, Nadja Kostich, Vuyo Loko, advice across a wide range of business and Tariro Mavondo, Diana Nguyen, Rani Pramesti, commercial aspects of the theatre industry. Jaime Wilson Ramirez, Marco Romero Rodriguez, and Majid Shokor, Participants Katy Alexander, Rachel Baring, Justine Campbell, Felix Ching Ching Ho, Tanya Dickson, Catarina Hebbard, Kat Henry, Samara Hersch, Tamara Searle, Hallie Shellam Dramaturg Internships Assistant Directors In 2015, MTC continued its partnership with Playwriting Australia to offer advanced mentoring An annual program offering four paid Assistant in script assessment, playwright feedback, creative Director positions to emerging and mid-career development and programming. directors to help them gain experience on the mainstage and learn from experienced senior Participants Angus Cameron, Tania Cañas, directors. Daniel Clarke, Marcel Dorney, Ben Grant, Kirsty Hillhouse, Mari Lourey, Dominic Mercer, Participants Marcel Dorney (Jumpy), Cathy Hunt, Georgina Capper John Kachoyan (North by Northwest), Janice Muller (Death and the Maiden), Yvonne Virsik (The Last Man Standing)

Women Directors program alumnae Clare Watson in rehearsal for What Rhymes with Cars and Girls -74- -75-

Investment in the arts leads Economic Impact Study to benefits to other industries North by Northwest Over $1.2 million was spent on hospitality, retail and transport as a result of people attending North by Northwest.

Accommodation $134,545 In June 2015 Melbourne Theatre Company built, produced and presented the world Meals $749,449 premiere stage adaptation of North by Northwest. Transport $169,231 Following its successful six week season, MTC commissioned Intuitive Solutions to conduct Shopping $112,023 an independent study into the impact of the production on the Victorian economy.

Melbourne Theatre Company million draws people to Melbourne $3.7Total economic contribution to the Victorian economy as a result of attending MTC’s production of North by Northwest.

Breakdown of contribution by attendees’ place of residence 79%said North by Northwest was their City of Melbourne $249,736 main reason for visiting Melbourne CBD. Metro Victoria $2,536,809 Regional Victoria $611,385 Outside Victoria $302,102

Melbourne Theatre Company 1people usedin public transport 5 is a driver of economic activity to travel to the production. The study found that North by Northwest, one of eleven mainstage productions in MTC’s 2015 Season, generated an estimated $3.7 million in funds that would not otherwise have been spent if not for the production.

This fact sheet summarises key findings of a report produced by Intuitive Solutions quantifying the economic impact of MTC’s production of North by Northwest. -76- -77-

Awards and Nominations received in 2015 2014 Green Room Award winners 2015 Helpmann Award nominations Ensemble in Independent Theatre Writing or Adaptation for the Australian Stage SHIT (Dee & Cornelius, MTC Neon) Aidan Fennessy What Rhymes with Cars and Girls Lighting Design Best Musical Finegan Kruckmeyer The Boy at the Edge Set & Costume Design in Independent Theatre Winner: Paul Jackson Private Lives, Ghosts Once of Everything and The Speechmaker plus Body of Work Marg Horwell SHIT (Dee & Cornelius, MTC Neon) Best New Australian Work Production Production in Independent Theatre Sound Design and Composition Marlin Birdland SHIT (Dee & Cornelius, MTC Neon) THE SWEATS Yellow Moon What Rhymes with Cars and Girls The Boy at Edge of Everything Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Best Director Writing in Independent Theatre North by Northwest Patricia Cornelius SHIT Madeleine Jones Once Clare Watson What Rhymes with Cars and Girls Direction (Dee & Cornelius, MTC Neon) Male Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Best Female Actor in a Musical Leticia Caceres Birdland Tom Parsons Once Madeleine Jones Once Peter Houghton The Boy at the Edge of Everything 2015 Green Room Award nominations Ensemble in a Musical Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play Male Performer in Independent Theatre Once Julie Forsyth Endgame Female Actor Kevin Kiernan-Molloy Lord Willing and the Creek Sophie Ross What Rhymes With Cars and Girls Don't Rise (MKA, NEON Festival) Musical Direction of a Musical Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical Julie Forsyth Endgame Martin Lowe and Kellie Dickerson Once Amy Lehpamer Once Female Performer in Independent Theatre Male Actor Jan Friedl Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise Lighting Design of a Musical Best Male Supporting Actor in a Musical Osamah Sami I Call my Brothers (MKA, NEON Festival) Natasha Katz Once Brent Hill Once Mark Leonard Winter Birdland Ensemble in Independent Theatre Colin Dean Once Bert LaBonté for Body of Work including Birdland Sound Design of a Musical SHIT (Dee & Cornelius, MTC Neon) Clive Goodwin Once Best Scenic Design Ensemble Set and Costume in Independent Theatre Marg Horwell Marlin North by Northwest Director of a Musical Marg Horwell SHIT (Dee & Cornelius, MTC Neon) John Tiffany Once Best Lighting Design Birdland Rachel Burke Marlin The Boy at the Edge of Everything Director in Independent Theatre Musical Production Susie Dee SHIT (Dee & Cornelius, MTC Neon) Once Best Sound Design Lighting Design Clive Goodwin Once Paul Jackson Endgame Production in Independent Theatre Female Dancer Lisa Mibus The Boy at the Edge of Everything SHIT (Dee &Cornelius, MTC Neon) Lauren Langlois Complexity of Belonging Best Music Direction Tim Rogers What Rhymes with Cars and Girls Set and Costume Writing in Independent Theatre Male Performer in Independent Theatre Callum Morton(Set) and Eugyeene Teh Patricia Cornelius SHIT (Dee & Cornelius, MTC Neon) Angus Cerini Resplendence Best Original Score (Costume) Endgame (Angus Cerini/Doubletap/NEON Festival) Tim Rogers What Rhymes with Cars and Girls Simon Phillips and Nick Schlieper (Set), Josh Burns (Audio–Visual) and Esther Marie Hayes (Costume Drama Victoria Award Winners Best Choreography in a Musical Design) North by Northwest 2015 Helpmann Award Winner Steven Hoggett Once Best Resource Kit for Drama Andrew Bailey The Boy at the Edge of Everything and/or Theatre Education Best Direction of a Musical Meg Upton and MTC Education: Sound and Composition John Tiffany Once 2015 Green Room Award winners Endgame: Teacher's Notes Russell Goldsmith Endgame Ensemble J David Franzke The Boy at the Edge of Everything Best Performance by a Theatre Company North by Northwest Ian McDonald (Composition and Sound Design) for Secondary Students (7–10) North by Northwest Best Director The Boy at the Edge of Everything Leticia Cáceres Birdland -78- -79-

Actors and Artists 2015

Actors John Maurice Directors Lighting Realiser Voice and Dialect Speech Pathologist Felix Ching Ching Ho Rehearsal Aljin Abella Tariro Mavondo Gary Abrahams Gavin Norris Coaches Debbie Phyland Tamara Searle Photographers Rodney Afif Ian Meadows Geordie Brookman Geraldine Cook Hallie Shellam Pam Kleemann Alice Ansara Alex Menglet Leticia Cáceres Musical Directors Suzanne Heywood Secondments Deryk McAlpin Emina Aliyyah Ashman Robert Menzies Tanya Dickson Andrew Patterson Anna McCrossin-Owen Directorial Playwrights under Gina Milicia Kate Atkinson Colin Moody Naomi Edwards Tim Rogers Leith McPherson Jessica Arthur Commission David Paterson Michala Banas Steve Mouzakis Sarah Giles Debbie Phyland Daniel Lammin Van Badham (Malcolm Alison Bell Luke Mullins Roger Hodgman Composers and Sound Simon Stollery Shannon Loughnane Robertson Commission) Production Nicholas Bell Nathan O’Keefe Peter Houghton Designers Cienda McNamara Angela Betzien (MTC Photographers Felix Berger-O'Neil Socratis Otto Nadja Kostich Drew Crawford Assistant Directors Phillip Rouse plus Malcolm Robertson Jeff Busby Ian Bliss Jensen Overend Lee Lewis Steve Francis Marcel Dorney Stage Management Commission) Shane Reid Laurence Boxhall Joana Pires Simon Phillips J David Franzke John Kachoyan Jessie Atkins Jane Bodie Caroline Brazier Miles Paras Pamela Rabe Russell Goldsmith Suzannah Kennett Lister Jackson Harper Patricia Cornelius Tom Budge Susie Porter Iain Sinclair Ian McDonald Leith McPherson Christa Jonathan Declan Greene Johnny Carr Rani Pramesti Sam Strong THE SWEATS Janice Muller Jack Kinkaid Tom Holloway Peter Carroll Marina Prior Clare Watson Jason Sweeney Yvonne Virsik Amelia O’Brien Lally Katz (Australian Jack Charles Sophie Ross Darrin Verhagen Ariana O’Brien Writers’ Foundation Ray Chong Nee Deidre Rubenstein Set and Costume Jethro Woodward Stage Managers Kaytlin Petrarca Fellow) Mark Coles-Smith Mark Saturno Designers Emma Barbaro Gin Rosse Finegan Kruckemeyer Justin Stewart Cotta Osamah Sami Andrew Bailey Sound System Designer Jess Burns Timothy Spohr Roslyn Oades Brett Cousins Anna Samson Geoff Cobham Terry McKibbin Christine Bennett Katharine Timms Hannie Rayson (with Matt Day Monica Sawyne Anna Cordingley Lisette Drew Lighting and Sound Manhattan Theatre Club) Nick Enyaud Peta Sergeant Kate Davis Audio Visual and Alice Fleming Daniel Anderson Robert Reid John Lloyd Fillingham Lucas Stibbard Dale Ferguson Video Designers Jess Keepence Tristan Barr John Romeril Ash Flanders Greg Stone Adam Gardnir Josh Burns Whitney McNamara Kieran Cerato (Playwriting Australia) Julie Forsyth Maria Theodorakis Chloe Greaves Michael Carmody Jess Maguire Ben Keene Colin Friels David Tredinnick Michael Hankin Stephen Moore Katelyn Shaw Macgeorge Fellows Matt Furlani Toby Truslove Esther Marie Hayes Technical Consultant Vivienne Poznanski Wardrobe Joe Penhall (UK) Nadine Garner Harry Tseng Marg Horwell Richard Dinnen Melanie Selwood Meropi Egelzos Simon Stephens (UK) Eugene Gilfedder Jane Turner Dayna Morrissey Julia Smith Emily Goddard Dylan Watson Callum Morton Choreographers Cybec Interns MTC CONNECT Esther Hannaford Nicki Wendt Teresa Negroponte Dana Jolly Denis Irving Award Cathy Hunt Ambassadors Sheridan Harbridge Alison Whyte Ailsa Paterson Stephanie Lake Recipient (Lighting) Lara Kerestes Tania Canas Brenna Harding Mark Leonard Winter Richard Roberts Lachlan O’Connor Justin Nott Teame Ersie Margaret Harvey Lachlan Woods Nick Schlieper Fight Choreographers Keziah Warner Rashma N Kalsie Matt Hetherington Leighton Young Eugyeene Teh Brad Flynn Translation Consultant Nadja Kostich Peter Kowitz Scott Witt Ninna Tersman Women Directors Vuyo Loko Bert LaBonté Musicians Lighting Designers Program Tariro Mavondo Sebastian Lamour Ed Antonov Rachel Burke Armorer Model Makers Katy Alexander Diana Nguyen John Leary Ben Franz Paul Jackson Len Steele Charlie Davis Rachel Baring Rani Pramesti Tony Llewellyn-Jones Xani Kolac Lisa Mibus Owen Phillips Justine Campbell Jaime Wilson Ramirez Belinda McClory Tim Rogers Nick Schlieper Tanya Dickson Marco Romero Rhys McConnochie Matt Scott Touring Carpenter Catarina Hebbard Rodriguez William McInnes Andy Turner John Meyer Kat Henry Majid Shokor Amber McMahon Chris Twyman Samara Hersch Simon Maiden Richard Vabre -80- -81-

MTC Staff 2015

Executive Philanthropy Marketing and Technical Manager – Sound Supervisor Stephanie Barham Database Specialist Costume Makers Artistic Director Co-ordinators Communications Staging Terry McKibbin Tanya Batt Ben Gu Tiffany Abbott Brett Sheehy ao Stephanie Convery Marketing Director Andrew Bellchambers Lawler Studio Technician Thomas Blackburne VIP Ticketing Officer Etai Alves Executive Director Drew Wooton Vanessa Rowsthorn Acting Senior Head Josh Noble Paul Blenheim Michael Bingham Emily Brewer Virginia Lovett Corporate Partnerships Marketing Manager Mechanist Head Flyman Tash Commons Education Ticketing Jocelyn Creed Assistant to the Artistic Co-ordinators James Wright Jamie Cunningham James Tucker Rhea Famlonga Officer Elizabeth Maisey Director Ryan Nicolussi Digital Marketing Andy McClintock Stage and Technical Des Fleming Melita Illich John Molloy Nick Doherty Matthew Phoenix Manager Electrics Staff Bronte Florian Box Office Supervisor Ashlegh Neale Executive Administrators Engagement Megan Byrne Adam Bowring Pete Andrews Damien Harrison Adam Walsh Harriet Oxleigh Annie Bourke Co-ordinator Marketing Co-ordinators Allan Hirons Matthew Arthur Soren Jensen Box Office Attendants Buyers Matthew Phoenix Natalie Holmwood Daniel Coghlan Scott McAlister Kieren Daniels Angus Keech Joel Checkley Lucy Moran Memberships Emily Fiori Production Administrator Nathan Evers Jo Leishman Gemma Cotterell Sophie Woodward Artistic Co-ordinator PR and Communications Alison Brown Richard Gorr Brienna Macnish Katie Dircks Wardrobe Hire Associate Artistic Syrie Payne Manager Production Co-ordinator Adam Graf Ross MacPherson Simon Hiler Liz Symons Director Rosie Shepherdson- Michaela Deacon Adam Hanley Will MacRostie Jean Lizza Wardrobe Maintenance Sam Strong Education Cullen Production Design Jim Henry Paddy Macrae Bridget Mackey Ashleigh Neale Associate Director Education Managers Publicist Co-ordinator Jake Hutchins Faran Martin Teale Nicholls Millinery Leticia Cáceres Suzie Thomas Stephanie Gavlak Andrew Bailey David Jenkins Natasha Milton Kaytlin Petrarca Phillip Rhodes Producer Education Co-ordinator PR and Marketing CAD Drafting Robert Larsen Daniel Moulds Daniel Scaffidi Wigs & Makeup Martina Murray Clare Haggan Assistant Jacob Batista Peter Lavery Ernesto Munoz Timon Sotiropolis Jurga Celikiene Literary Director Community Outreach Rebecca Jones Paul Lim Sarah Nathan-Truesdale Rhiannon Stevens Yvonne Borland Chris Mead Manager Publications Co- Properties Marcus Macris Zoe Partington Subscription Supervisor Casting Director Karin Farrell ordinator Supervisor Bianca Mastrioianni Amy Poonian Alex Browne Workshop Janine Snape Paul Galloway Geoff McGregor Kevin O’Brien Clare Reddan Subscription Team Workshop Supervisor Casting Executive Finance and Lead Graphic Designers Properties Maker Abe Otenstein Meg Richardson Leader Aldo Amenta Matt Bebbington Administration Emma Wagstaff Colin Penn Nicholas Reich Richard Saxby Debra McDougall Deputy Supervisor Finance Directors Emma Barrett Scenic Art Rebecca Varcoe Caitlyn Staples Subscription Team Andrew Weavers Catering Patrick Healey Graphic Designers Supervisor Nick Walker Ellen Strosser Tanya Batt Set Makers Catering Manager Liz Chapell Helena Turinski Shane Dunn Alistair Watson Myles Tankle Simon Braxton Ken Best Andrea Purvis Systems Manager Danny Cordner Scenic Artists Joy Weng Harriet Wallace-Mead Milly Cooper Bryce Hartnett Assistant Manager Michael Schuettke Receptionists Tansy Elso Ashlee Wohling Isobel Taylor-Rogers Justine Clear Philip de Mulder Anita Lyovic Company Accountant Mary Gotsi Colin Harman Nick Wollan Isabella Vadveloo Brent Davidson Alastair Read Café Attendant Ness Harwood Mattie Young House Supervisors Keziah Warner Peter Dowd Norma Seager Finance Officer Sytske Hillenius Southbank Theatre Marisa Cuzzolaro Shannon Woodford Kasey Gambling Volunteers Sarah Thompson David Zierk Theatre Manager Kasey Gambling Mattie Young Chris Elliott Finance Development Accounts Payable Officer Mark D Wheeler Brienna Macnish Jamaica Zuanetti Fran Heffermann Jen Dutton Development Director Meni Kalligas Production House Services Manager Nathan Smith Chelsea Lang Carolyn Elvins Tiffany Lucas Salaries Officer Head of Production Kam Greville Paul Terrell Ticketing Moira Millar Philanthropy Managers Julia Godinho Adam J Howe Building Services Drew Thomson Director CRM and Adam Roche Overseas Sarah Kimball Senior Production Manager Bar Manager Ticketing Tain Stangret Representatives Patrick Rundle Human Resources Manager Justin Murphy Phoebe Taylor Dale Bradbury Caitlyn Staples London Corporate Partnerships HR Manager Michelle Preshaw Production Services Bar Supervisors Ticketing Manager Isobel Taylor-Rogers Yolande Bird/ Manager Christelle Harris Production Manager Manager Natalie Holmwood Brenna Sotiropoulos Diana Franklin Dean Hampel Personnel Administrator Mikkel Mynster Frank Stoffels Tain Stangret Ticketing Services Wardrobe New York Events Manager Christine Verginis Technical Manager – Lighting Supervisor House and Bar Administrator Wardrobe Managers Stuart Thompson Mandy Jones EHS Co-ordinator Lighting and Sound James Conway Attendants Lisa Mibus Judy Bunn Warren Michaelis Kerry Saxby Staging Supervisor William Atkinson Kerryn Ribands Grant Kennelly -82- -83-

Corporate Partners MTC would like to thank the following organisations for their generous support in 2015.

Leading Partners Major Partners Major Media Partners

Opening Night

Production Partners

Premium Season Partners

Season Partners

DIY WALLPAPER & MURALS

Southbank Theatre Partners

Media Partners

Additional Partners

Apple Evo Media Brady Hotels Karton Group Crayola Oh My Booth DDB Creative Solution Entertainment Destination Melbourne

Melbourne Theatre Company is Melbourne Theatre Company is assisted by the Commonwealth MTC is a member of a department of the University Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and Live Performance Australia and of Melbourne. advisory body, and by the State Government of Victoria through Arts the Australian Major Performing Victoria. Arts Group. -84- -85-

MTC Donors MTC gratefully acknowledges our visionary donors who share our passion Loyalty Circle $1,000–$2,499 and support our work Noel and Sylvia Alpins Gill Family Foundation Barbara and David Mushin James and Helen Angus Brian Goddard Dr Paul and Sue Nisselle Margaret Astbury Henry Gold Jan Nolan John and Dagnija Balmford Judy and Leon Goldman Jane Oldfield Lifetime Patrons Miriam Bass and Peter Jaffe Roger and Jan Goldsmith James Ostroburski Peter Clemenger ao and Allan Myers ao and Maria Myers ao Jay Bethell and Peter Smart Isabella Green oam and Richard Green Dr Kia and Victoria Pajouhesh Joan Clemenger ao Dr. Roger Riordan am David and Rhonda Black Lesley Griffin Dr Harry and Rita Perelberg Beth Brown and Tom Bruce am John and Jo Grigg Dr Annamarie Perlesz Sally Browne Fund – Australian Sir Andrew and Lady Grimwade Dug and Lisa Pomeroy Artistic Director's Circle Communities Foundation Ian and Wendy Haines Bill and Katharine Ranken Andrew and Geraldine Buxton Susanna Mason Luisa Valmorbida Lynne and Rob Burgess Glen Harrington and Robyn Eastham Peter and Terryl Read Dianne Lucas Craig Semple Caroline and Derek Young am Bill and Sandra Burdett Scott Herron Julie and Ian Reid Diana Burleigh Andrew Heslop Sally Redlich Pam Caldwell Sandi and Gil Hoskins Victoria Redwood Alison and John Cameron Professor Andrea Hull ao Ian and Diana Renard Benefactors Circle John and Jan Campbell Peter and Halina Jacobsen David Richards $100,000+ Ingrid and Per Carlsen Ed and Margaret Johnson Dr S M Richards am and M R Richards Crown Resorts Foundation Packer Family Foundation Clare and Richard Carlson Irene Kearsey Ros and Richard Rogers Fiona Caro Malcolm Kemp Sue Rose Kathleen and Harry Cator Liana Kestelman Rae Rothfield $50,000+ Chef's Hat Fiona Kirwan-Hamilton Patrick Rundle and Damien Mulvihill The Joan and Peter Clemenger Trust The Cybec Foundation Maureen Wheeler ao and Tony Wheeler ao Elizabeth Chernov and Simon E Marks sc Edwina Sahhar Sue Clarke and Lindsay Allen Doris and Steve Klein Susan Santoro Assoc Prof Lyn Clearihan and Ruth and Michael Kurc Max Schultz $20,000+ Dr Anthony Palmer Elizabeth Laverty Prof Barry Sheehan and Pamela Waller The Andrew and Geraldine Dr Geraldine Lazarus and Greig Gailey Caroline and Derek Young am Dr Robin Collier and Neil Collier Rosemary Leffler Diane Silk Buxton Foundation Lord Mayor Charitable Foundation Vizard Foundation John and Christine Collingwood Joan and George Lefroy Judith and John Sime Sandy and Yvonne Constantine Alison Leslie Jane Simon and Peter Cox $10,000+ The Cuming Bequest Peter and Judy Loney Tim and Angela Smith Cattermole Family The late Mr Noel Mason and Louise and Martyn Myer ao Betty Curtain Virginia Lovett and Rose Hiscock Reg and Elaine Smith oam Macgeorge Bequest Susanna Mason Craig Semple Ann Darby Tiffany and Matthew Lucas – Earimil Gardens Charity Malcolm Robertson Foundation Matsarol Foundation Luisa Valmorbida Mark and Jo Davey Elizabeth Lyons Diana and Brian Snape am The Myer Foundation Anonymous (1) Jocelyn Davies Carol Mackay and Greg Branson Shirley Strauss Jessica Denehey Ken and Jan Mackinnon Ricci Swart Mark and Amanda Derham Alister and Margaret Maitland Rodney and Aviva Taft $5,000+ Katharine Derham-Moore Joyce and Bernard Marks Miriam and Frank Tisher John and Lorraine Bates The Dowd Foundation Daniel Neal and Peter Chalk Robert Drake Garry McLean Peter and Liz Turner Sandy Bell and Daryl Kendrick Melody and Jonathan Feder Tom and Ruth O'Dea Bev and Geoff Edwards Elizabeth McMeekin Kevin and Elizabeth Walsh Besen Family Foundation Robert and Jan Green Leigh O'Neill George and Eva Ermer Douglas and Rosemary Meagher Pinky Watson Dr Andrew Buchanan and Peter Darcy Jane Hemstritch Alison Park Peta Evans and Dean Flynn Dr Mark and Dr Alla Medownick Ursula Whiteside Ian and Jillian Buchanan Anne Le Huray Professor David Penington ac Dr Alastair Fearn Robert and Helena Mestrovic Alan and Ann Wilkinson John and Robyn Butselaar Norman and Betty Lees and Dr Sonay Hussein Nola Finn John G Millard Mandy and Ted Yencken The Michael and Janet Buxton Foundation Marshall Day Acoustics Jeanne Pratt ac Jan and Rob Flew Jennifer Miller Greg Young Barry and Joanne Cheetham (Denis Irving Scholarship) Trawalla Foundation Trust Heather Forbes Ross and Judy Milne-Pott Roz Zalewski and Jeremy Ruskin Prof Margaret Gardner ao Ian and Margaret McKellar Dr Michael and Lynne Wright John Fullerton Terry Moran ac Ange and Pete Zangmeister and Prof Glyn Davis ac George and Rosa Morstyn Anonymous (3) Nigel and Cathy Garrard Ging Muir and John McCawley Anonymous (18) Diana and Murray Gerstman Jane and Andrew Murray Advocates Circle $2,500–$4,999 Eva Besen ao and Marc Besen ac Henry Gold Diana and Jeffrey Sher Youth Ambassadors Giving Circle Grant Fisher and Helen Bird Linda Herd Tim and Lynne Sherwood Heather Forbes Ruth and Michael Kurc Aaron and Lorrane Shwartz Bill Bowness Tony Hillery and Warwick Eddington Cheryl and Paul Veith Bruce Freeman Ging Muir and John McCawley Anonymous Pat Burke Bruce and Mary Humphries Ralph Ward-Ambler am JAF Productions pty ltd Tom and Ruth O'Dea Stephen and Jenny Charles Larry Kornhauser and Sophie Russell and Barbara Ward-Ambler Larry Kornhauser Ros and Richard Rogers Caroline and Robert Clemente Alex and Halina Lewenberg Price and Christine Williams Debbie Dadon Ian and Judi Marshman Ray and Margaret Wilson Dr Anthony Dortimer and Jillian Dortimer Sandy and Sandra Murdoch Gillian and Tony Wood Legacy Gifts Dr Helen Ferguson Donald Murray Laurel Young-Das and Heather Finnegan Ron Chapman The Robert Salzer Foundation ltd The Estate of Dorothy Wood Rosemary Forbes and Ian Hocking Christopher Richardson Anonymous (8) The Estate of Gordon J Compton The Kitty and Leslie Sandy Bequest Bruce Freeman Steven Nicholls and Brett Sheehy ao Gjergja Family Orloff Family Charitable Trust Heather and Bob Glindemann oam Tony Osmond and Fiona Griffiths To find out more about supporting MTC please call 03 8688 0959 or visit mtc.com.au/support Murray Gordon and Lisa Norton Janet Reid oam and Allan Reid -86- MTC Annual Report 2015 MTC Annual Report 2015 -87-

Financial Report 2015 -88- MTC Annual Report 2015 MTC Annual Report 2015 -89-

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

2015 2014 2015 2014 2015 2014 2015 2014 ARTISTIC VIBRANCY ACCESS NUMBER OF PAID FINANCIAL VIABILITY ATTENDANCES BASED ON AUDITED ACCOUNTS Subscription Season Number of Performances Productions 9 9 Self Entrepreneured Strength of reserves Co-Productions 1 1 Self Entrepreneured Home City 150,963 175,165 27.4% 29.2% (% of Revenue) Buy-ins 1 1 Home City 402 411 Total 11 11 Studio Season Profitability (excluding New productions 10 10 Studio Season Home City (NEON) 5,011 4,193 non-operating income) Home City (NEON) 54 51 Core Operations -$19,259 $62,174 Studio Season Buyins Foundation $1,000,000 $255,825 Productions Buyins Home City 16,632 23,755 Total $980,741 $317,999 Co-Productions (Neon) 6 5 Home City 45 67 Residency (Neon) 1 0 Co-productions Sources of Income Total 7 5 Co-productions Home City 16,051 23,878 as % of Total New productions 6 5 Home City 40 63 Box Office * 53.9% 65.9% Sold Off Sponsorship 11.2% 3.2% Other Plays Sold Off Home City 0 0 Donations 6.8% 3.0% Touring/Sold Off 5 1 Home City 0 0 Regional 1,089 526 Other Income 17.5% 16.2% Entreprenuerial 0 0 Regional 13 11 Other Capital City 29,010 2,637 Government Funding Co-productions 0 1 Other Capital City 66 17 International 5,687 1,883 Contribution 8.3% 9.5% Buy-ins 0 1 International 13 4 Funding directed 2.2% 2.2% Total 5 3 Education 5,598 3,791 to Payroll Tax New productions 4 1 Education 44 40 Total 100.0% 100.0% Development 509 1,007 Profile of plays Development 8 12 * Includes Ticketing Fees earned on Box Office sales New Australian (MTC) 4 3 Total Paid Attendances 230,550 236,835 New Australian (Neon) 5 5 Total Performances 685 676 GRANTS OPERATING Existing Australian 0 1 Regional New overseas 3 4 Number of Productions 1 1 Commonwealth Existing overseas 4 3 Number of Towns 11 10 Base $2,152,740 $2,106,399 Total Commonwealth Grants $2,152,740 $2,106,399 Education Program Productions 2 2 State Tours 1 1 Base $485,575 $485,575 Workshops/Forums/Talks 9 8 Less Payroll Tax Holiday Program 1 3 paid to State -$574,048 -$495,191 Ambassador Program 1 1 Total State Grants -$88,473 -$9,616 -90- MTC Annual Report 2015

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2015 GRANT LOST TO PAYROLL TAX % GRANT % MTC Core MTC Total 2015 INCOME INVESTMENT Operations Foundation INCOME % GRANT LOST TO $ $ $ GRANT % PAYROLL TAX % REVENUE INVESTMENT INCOME % Commonwealth Government Grants 2,222,691 0 2,222,691 Victorian Government Grants 485,575 0 485,575 OTHER INCOME Other Grants 1,214 35,000 36,214 INCLUDING EDUCATION AND Donations and Bequests 185,197 1,702,730 1,887,927 TOURING % BOX Sponsorships 2,755,007 0 2,755,007 OTHER INCOME OFFICE % INCLUDING Investment Income 1,122,175 33,042 1,155,217 EDUCATION AND Retail Sales (Box Office MTC) 12,656,675 0 12,656,675 TOURING % BOX OFFICE % Operating funds from Melbourne University 321,000 0 321,000 Other Income 4,649,567 13,703 4,663,270 TOTAL REVENUE 24,399,101 1,784,475 26,183,576

LESS EXPENSE Salaries and Oncosts 13,178,008 0 13,178,008 DEVELOPMENT % Audit and Accounting Services 31,768 0 31,768 TICKETING % Utilities 272,276 0 272,276 DEVELOPMENT % Building and Equipment Maintenance and Repairs 634,075 0 634,075 TICKETING % Computer Software and Services 160,466 0 160,466 Equipment and IT Purchases 148,895 0 148,895 Stage Materials and Supplies 431,100 0 431,100 Depreciation and Amortisation Expense 126,481 0 126,481 Performers & Creatives – Travel, Accommodation & Tour Costs 471,618 0 471,618 Advertising, Promotion and Publications 3,341,595 0 3,341,595 2015 EXPENDITURE Theatre Venue Rental and Hire Charges 2,081,772 0 2,081,772 DEVELOPMENT % Royalties and Commissions 1,694,890 0 1,694,890 MARKETING % Ticketing 1,309,758 0 1,309,758 General Expenses 1,320,133 0 1,320,133 DEVELOPMENT % TOTAL EXPENSE 25,202,835 0 25,202,835 MARKETING % ROYALTIES & COMMISSIONS % Transfer to/(from) Foundation 784,475 (784,475) 0

ROYALTIES & NET SURPLUS/(LOSS) (19,259) 1,000,000 980,741 ADMINISTRATIONCOMMISSIONS % %

SUBSCRIPTION, CREDITADMINISTRATION CARD FEES % SALARIES & ASSOCIATED & TICKETING % COSTS % OF WHICH SUBSCRIPTION, % ARE PROGRAM RELATED CREDIT CARD FEES SALARIES & ASSOCIATED & TICKETING % COSTS % OF WHICH THEATRE COSTS % % ARE PROGRAM RELATED

OTHER % THEATRE COSTS %

PRODUCTION OTHER % COSTS % DEPRECIATION %

PRODUCTION COSTS % DEPRECIATION % -92- MTC Annual Report 2015 MTC Annual Report 2015 -93-

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT BALANCE SHEET FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2015 AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2015

2015 2014 Notes 2015 2014 $ $ $ $ REVENUE CURRENT ASSETS Commonwealth Government Grants 2,222,691 2,152,081 Cash Assets 5,307,061 6,210,349 State and Local Government Grants 485,575 496,052 Receivables 825,612 283,193 Other Grants 36,214 0 Other Assets 1,650,971 1,440,769 Donations and Bequests 1,887,927 757,698 Other Financial Assets* 7,073,438 6,236,374* Sponsorships 2,755,007 656,909 TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 14,857,082 14,170,685 Investment Income1 1,155,217 316,329 Retail Sales (Box Office MTC) 12,656,675 13,330,951 NON-CURRENT ASSETS Operating funds from Melbourne University 321,000 282,500 Other Income 4,663,270 4,962,539 Property, Plant & Equipment 4,704,257 4,807,200 TOTAL REVENUE 26,183,576 22,955,059 TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS 4,704,257 4,807,200 TOTAL ASSETS 19,561,339 18,977,885 LESS EXPENSE Salaries and Oncosts 13,178,008 11,833,002 Audit and Accounting Services 31,768 86,121 CURRENT LIABILITIES Utilities 272,276 295,928 Building and Equipment Maintenance and Repairs 634,075 714,428 Payables 1,203,284 1,836,474 Computer Software and Services 160,466 299,714 Provisions 1,128,565 1,045,585 Equipment and IT Purchases 148,895 394,678 Other Current Liabilities 9,957,963 9,246,164 Stage Materials and Supplies 431,100 522,815 TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 12,289,812 12,128,223 Depreciation and Amortisation Expense 126,481 130,032 Production related Travel, Accommodation & Tour Costs 471,618 555,931 NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES Advertising, Promotion and Publications2 3,341,595 1,824,359 Theatre Venue Rental and Hire Charges 2,081,772 2,032,874 Provisions 90,502 150,172 Royalties and Commissions 1,694,890 1,548,154 TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES 90,502 150,172 Ticketing 1,309,758 1,362,986 General Expenses 1,320,133 1,036,038 TOTAL LIABILITIES 12,380,314 12,278,395 TOTAL EXPENSE 25,202,835 22,637,060 NET ASSETS 7,181,025 6,699,490

NET SURPLUS/(LOSS) 980,741 317,999 EQUITY Reserves 3,737,174 3,236,380 OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR Retained Surplus 3,443,851 3,463,110 Available-for-sale financial assets: Realised prior year capital (gain) on investments (506,806) 0 TOTAL EQUITY 7,181,025 6,699,490 Unrealised capital gain on investments 7,602 287,549 (499,204) 287,549 *Reclassification of 2014 investment assets from noncurrent to current

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR 481,537 605,548

1 Includes $983K capital gain on investments 2 Includes in-kind support (2015: $1.9M, 2014: $0.2M) -94- MTC Annual Report 2015 MTC Annual Report 2015 -95-

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY CASH FLOW STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2015

MTC Core Foundation Consolidated 2015 2014 $ $ $ Inflows/ Inflows/ STATEMENT OF CHANGES (Outflows) (Outflows) IN EQUITY $ $ CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Retained Profits 3,426,094 0 3,426,094 Inflows Reserve Funds 2,375,177 292,671 2,667,848 Cash flows from government: Balance at 1 January 2014 5,801,271 292,671 6,093,942 Commonwealth Grants 2,222,691 2,152,081 Victorian Government Grants 485,575 496,052 Surplus for the year 62,174 255,825 317,999 2014 Other Grants 36,214 0 Interest received 138,955 271,302 Other comprehensive income for the year 255,960 31,589 287,549 Other income 19,992,858 16,685,605 GST collected (refunded) by the ATO (212,914) (46,282) Balance at 31 December 2014 6,119,405 580,085 6,699,490 Operating funds from Melbourne University 321,000 282,500 Outflows Surplus for the year (19,259) 1,000,000 980,741 Payments to employees (13,154,698) (11,584,514) Payments to suppliers (10,389,425) (6,918,992) Other comprehensive income for the year (506,806) 7,602 (499,204) Net Cash Inflow (Outflow) from Operating Activities (559,745) 1,337,752

2015 Retained Profits 3,443,851 0 3,443,851 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Reserve Funds 2,149,489 1,587,687 3,737,176 Inflows Balance at 31 December 2015 5,593,340 1,587,687 7,181,027 Proceeds from sale of non-current assets 0 0 Outflows Payment for Pool Units (345,028) (3,255,955) Plant and equipment purchases (23,539) (81,281) Net Cash Inflow (Outflow) from Investing activities (368,567) (3,337,236)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES Inflows None 0 0 Outflows None 0 0 Net Cash Inflow (Outflow) from Financing Activities 0 0

Net increase/(decrease) in cash held (928,312) (1,999,484)

Cash at the beginning of the reporting period 6,235,371 8,234,855

Cash at the end of the reporting period 5,307,060 6,235,371

Reconciliation of Cash at end Cash/(Overdraft) 5,288,033 6,213,615 Petty cash floats 19,028 21,756 5,307,061 6,235,371